(LOT 145)
1948 Leaf #76 Ted Williams PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ - The SOLE PSA 8.5 Example!

MINT AESTHETICS!!! Recently graded by PSA, this miraculous PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ Ted Williams masterpiece just happens to be the SOLE example at this illustrious plateau, with only a meager seven PSA specimens graded higher! Unquestionably, this remarkable Splendid Splinter offering stands as the finest '48 Leaf Williams we have ever seen, with its immaculate attributes including atypical near-perfect centering, a crystal-clear Williams classic batting pose, blistering sharp corner tips, pack-fresh surfaces, a vibrant orange-hued setting, and blinding white borders. Spellbinding to say the least, after scouring this newly discovered example, we were left scratching our heads as to why it didn't achieve the hallowed MINT assessment. While there could always be a microscopic-sized surface flaw only seen under heavy magnification, we can truly state that the naked eye cannot detect any blemishes whatsoever. That said, we cannot imagine any of the seven PSA 9 copies besting the unparalleled aesthetics radiating from this museum-worthy gem, with its Pop 1 standing tantamount to Teddy Ballgame's undisputed stature as our national pastime's greatest hitter who ever graced a batter's box.

Indeed, from the time he was a young boy, it was the Kid's ultimate dream of walking down the street with people passing him by and stating, "There goes the greatest hitter in baseball history". Ted's steadfast loyalty and dedication to utmost excellence made this dream a bona fide reality, with his lifetime statistics including a .344 batting average, 521 round trippers, 1,839 RBIs and an unfathomable 1.116 OPS all combining to support that notion. If that isn't enough, his heroic stints in two wars, where he shot down 16 enemy aircraft, solidified his legacy as the true embodiment of a national hero. This Boston Red Sox icon, with his myriad hitting achievements and military heroism, captivated a country throughout his playing days, and it's no coincidence that the Splendid Splinter even managed to hit a home run in the last swing of his illustrious career. Owner of two Triple Crowns (1942 and '47), we cannot even contemplate what Ted's lifetime numbers would have been had he not lost nearly five full years in two wars, with William pacing the Junior Circuit in homers (44), batting average (.369) and OPS (1.112) the year his 1948 Leaf subject was issued by the renowned Gum Company.

As previously stated, one of the bona fide highlights of this PSA 8.5 is the extremely well-positioned image, with a vast number of 1948 Leaf cards portraying skewed centering. Stubbornly defying time over the past three-quarters of a century, it certainly appears as if this timeless wonder was just pulled from a 1948 Leaf wax pack at a local mom and pop candy store, and our utmost compliments to the individual(s) who managed to preserve this offering in its current impeccable state. While the Pop 1 PSA 8.5 assessment is more than sufficient for even the most meticulous collector, anyone can clearly see that the overall visual appeal is as close to perfect as one could ever expect. The incomparable Thumper was superior at his crafts, an unequivocal elite who pursued all of life's endeavors with relentless fortitude while adamantly refusing to play second fiddle. It was his uncanny eyesight that ably assisted him in being the finest hitter and fighter pilot imaginable, and synonymous with those exceptional skill sets comes along this compelling '48 Leaf treasure meriting serious consideration as the premier eye-pleasing example on the planet - poetic justice at its best for baseball's greatest all-time batsman!

MIN BID $5,000
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