(LOT 13)
1925 Champions Exhibits Babe Ruth PSA 3 VG – POP 2
RARE BAMBINO EXHIBIT!!! One of Babe Ruth's most elusive 1920s cards is his imposing 1925 Champions Exhibits, presented here in a superb PSA 3 VG holder. One of only two PSA examples at this desirable plateau, a mere seven specimens have been graded higher! This elusive Champions Exhibits set includes 32 subjects, each representing a top athlete of the day from various sports, with the highly coveted Babe Ruth card being the sole baseball player in the set. Most significantly, this is the exact batting pose featured on Ruth's legendary 1921-23 E220 National Caramel card, with that image allegedly taken on opening day 1921 at the Polo Grounds. It is this hallowed image that is sought after by the most sophisticated enthusiasts, whether on his E220 subject or the likewise scarce 1925 Champions Exhibit Ruth.

The notion that this glorified image was taken on opening day 1921 is solidified by the Polo Grounds grandstands, Ruth's pinstriped white cap and the American flag in the background (the Yankees wore white caps for their home games in 1919 and 1921). While the Yankees did play the Giants in the 1921 World Series at the Polo Grounds, where red, white and blue bunting was likewise utilized, 1921 World Series Yankees home game images clearly indicate that the Yankees switched to classic midnight blue caps for their fall classic home games. We are therefore left to assume that the only other game that would be prestigious enough to require American flags, or bunting, would be opening day, which traditionally included any type of decorative red, white and blue paraphernalia. That said, the Yankees would be off to the races on opening day 2021, blasting Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics by an 11-1 score. It would be the Babe himself who would steal the show, posting a sensational five hits in five at-bats, including two doubles and two runs batted in.

The Yankees would move on to win the AL Pennant with their impressive 98 wins, ultimately losing the fall classic to their cross-river rivals, the New York Giants. It's no coincidence that the Champions Exhibit set would include the Sultan of Swat as the only baseball subject, with Ruth now the toast of the Big Apple and baseball's greatest player. Fresh off the heels of a monster 1924 campaign that saw the home run champion pace the Junior Circuit in dingers (46), batting average (.378), total bases (391) and OPS (1.252), Babe Ruth was now recognized as a world-renowned figure. A host of manufacturers were battling to utilize his hallowed name to promote their company's brand, with the World's Champions Exhibits being one of a myriad of baseball card issues portraying his iconic image. Other than the immortal Charles Conlon 1927 Ruth batting image used for his 1933 Goudey cards, arguably no other Babe Ruth Yankees batting pose is as desirable as this classic illustration first seen on his 1921-23 E220 National Caramel subject.

This cardboard masterpiece reveals a spectacular Ruth E220 central image that has eluded any notable flaws, with his classic white Yankees cap and pinstriped uniform stealing the show. Crystal clear, the awe-inspiring black and white image turns back the clock to an era when Ruth was revolutionizing baseball via his mammoth homers. The Babe ruled our national pastime, and his illustrious name is situated in a neat gray text box that reads: "BABE RUTH (U.S.A.) – WORLD'S CHAMPION BASEBALL PLAYER". Preventing a higher assessment is general corner wear, including a few modest spider wrinkles along the lower corners. A relatively clean blank verso is the final superlative for a card that seldom surfaces in any grade, let alone a splendid PSA 3 VG. One of Ruth's rarest exhibit cards, with a breathtaking E220 batting image, it truly merits a final resting place in any world-class Ruthian gathering!

MIN BID $5,000
_