(LOT 141)
1921 E121 "Babe" Ruth Series of 80 - "Babe" in Quotes Variation SGC 5 EX
1921 BABE!!! Locating a 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth subject revealing virtually perfect centering is an excruciating task, justifying why this SGC 5 EX Ruth marvel merits the highest hobby accolades! Indeed, this mid-grade heirloom boasts near dead-on 50/50 positioning as well as wide borders, with the "Babe" in quotes variation turning back the clock to an era when the Sultan of Swat was revolutionizing our National Pastime. While SGC's census report does not distinguish the three Ruth E121 variations ("Babe"; Babe; George), what we can state is that all three versions total 46 SGC-encapsulated copies, for which there are only four other specimens at this eye-pleasing 5 plateau and only five examples graded higher. PSA, however, does split out the three different variations, listing only three PSA 5 "Babe" in quotes, and a meager three copies at a higher assessment.

It's no secret that the floodgates have officially opened with regard to the soaring pricing points being realized for early 1920s Ruth black and white caramel cards. Suppressed for quite some time versus their over-populated Goudey peers, their utmost scarcity has finally caught on with collectors, with a PSA 7 1921 E121 Ruth selling for a staggering $337K in a Memory Lane 2021 auction as well as an SGC 3.5 fetching a record for that grade at $83K likewise in a Memory Lane auction. Their 103-year-old history can be traced back to 1921, when the American Caramel Co. of Lancaster and York, Pennsylvania reignited the card collecting community via its landmark E121 candy set. With 80 different subjects represented by fine black and white player images, similar to virtually all pre-WWII issues, the most prestigious player in the E121 set is any of the three Babe Ruth variations.

As an added feature, this iconic Babe Ruth pitching pose has been verified as a true rookie-era Ruth image by PSA's photo expert, originally taken at the Red Sox's Hot Springs, Arkansas spring training facility in March 1915. Before the 1920 season, Ruth had been traded from the Red Sox to the New York Yankees for the hefty price tag of $125,000, with Ruth walloping an amazing 54 home runs in his inaugural Big Apple campaign. The mighty Bambino would continue his assault on opposing pitchers the following year when this renowned E121 Ruth baseball card was issued, belting 59 home runs in 1921 and firmly establishing himself as baseball's greatest player. Further intriguing is that Ruth is donning an early Red Sox uniform in his 1915 rookie season, the exact pose affixed to his ultra-scarce 1917 Boston Store, Collins-McCarthy, and Standard Biscuit issues. We can only assume that since Ruth had played only a single season with the Yankees, rather than seeking out one of his first-year Yankee images, the American Caramel Co. took the easy route by utilizing a preexisting BoSox pitching pose.

The neat aspect of this card is that it represents Babe Ruth as a New York Yankee while still featuring him in his Boston uniform. The spectacular aesthetics are highlighted by a momentous pitching image portraying crystal-clear clarity and superb contrast as Ruth delivers another tantalizing pitch in his Boston flannels. The text beneath his iconic pose reflects the "BABE" RUTH name in quotes and "R.F.- New York Americans", and both surfaces are relatively clean. As previously stated, the hallowed image atypically exhibits near-perfect centering, with a majority of the 1921 E121 Ruth's plagued by skewed images. Most likely accounting for the grade is even corner wear, and the verso's imposing AMERICAN CARAMEL SERIES OF 80 ad back is the final stamp of approval. This world-class marvel is truly one of Ruth's most coveted cardboard mementos, providing the collector with a super eye-pleasing early 1920s Ruth card, a Boston Red Sox Ruth rookie-era image, and considering the E121 Ruth's continuous record-setting sales, an issue that has not even remotely approached its potential stratospheric value!

MIN BID $20,000
_