(LOT 28)
1941 Play Ball #14 Ted Williams PSA 8 NM-MT
.406 CAMPAIGN!!! The 1941 Play Ball #14 Ted Williams subject is one of his most coveted keepsakes, now presented in a spectacular PSA 8 NM-MT holder. Of the 1,200+ PSA encapsulated examples, only nine have managed to exceed this world-class marvel, with Memory Lane fetching $28K-$31K for three different PSA 8 specimens over the past several years. Truly residing as one of Teddy Ballgame's most formidable baseball cards, collectors crave this particular issue most likely due to both the season it was issued as well as the super eye-pleasing Williams' portrait pose that is a favorite among collectors. The 1941 campaign saw The Kid become the last MLB player to bat .400 or better, with Ted posting an unfathomable .406 average courtesy of his extraordinary six hits compiled in a doubleheader played on the final day of the season.

The Splendid Splinter's unparalleled hitting prowess has placed him as our National Pastime's arguable greatest hitter ever, and it's not every time that we have the opportunity to fulfill our lifetime dream. For the great Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, achieving his dream of "walking down the street with people passing me and saying there goes the greatest hitter who ever lived" did become a reality. This notion is upheld by most baseball historians, substantiated by his .344 lifetime average, 521 home runs, nearly 2,000 RBIs and the 2nd highest OPS (1.115) and OPS+ (190) figures that sit only behind the immortal Babe Ruth.

All of these amazing achievements were compiled with Williams missing five years of his prime in WWII and the Korean War as a bona fide fighter pilot, with Ted actually playing in an incredible four decades (1939-1960). Similar to the Thumper's sensational batting exploits are the breathtaking aesthetics of this PSA 8 NM-MT '41 Play Ball subject that has easily earned the lofty assessment, with its pack-fresh attributes possibly meriting an even higher grade. This museum-worthy masterpiece provides a brilliant and colorful portrait pose of the fearsome slugger, revealing impeccable clarity and contrast. Blinding white borders frame the classic image that, atypically, reveals near-perfect positioning, stubbornly defying the off-center stigma commonly associated with this issue. Indeed, attempting to find a virtually spot-on centered '41 Play Ball Williams is a tougher task than trying to slip a fastball past his bat. An immaculate surface ends at razor-sharp edges and pinpoint corner tips, with the flipside's bold black print registration and accompanying surface nearly flawless.

One of the finest looking Ted Williams 1941 Play Ball subjects extant, its pack-fresh nature provides eye-appeal outdistancing the grade, and no one would have questioned a PSA 8.5 assessment. Retaining virtually all of its pristine attributes for the past 82 years, it stands as a perfect testament to Ted Williams' unparalleled legacy, conjuring up vivid memories of how this remarkable hitter elevated himself to a pinnacle level at his gifted craft. Similar to Ruth and DiMaggio, Ted Williams will forever be categorized as an American hero, solidified by Ted being the best at his particular skills, both in the batter's box and battling enemy fighter aircraft to defend a grateful nation. Williams' 1941 campaign resulted in an amazing .406 batting average, solidifying the notion that this Beantown hero truly resides as baseball's finest all-time hitter, synonymous with this exalted heirloom's pinnacle aesthetics!

MIN BID $10,000

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