(LOT 36)
1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth PSA 5 EX
IMPOSING RUTH GOUDEY!!!... The immortal Babe Ruth's significance to our National Pastime cannot be overemphasized, with his mighty home runs revolutionizing baseball directly after the Black Sox Scandal. The mighty Bambino truly saved the game during this dark period, with his record-breaking feats ultimately earning him the title of baseball's greatest all-time player. Other than a few of his early Boston Red Sox issues, no card could more effectively represent the unparalleled Ruth than a super eye-pleasing 1933 Goudey Gum card. This prestigious gum company transformed the card market by inserting baseball players and gum in wax packs, as opposed to manufacturers packaging cards with their candy and tobacco products. Unquestionably, Goudey chose the right player to produce four separate subjects, and card #181 is presented here in a splendid PSA 5 holder.

The Sultan of Swat's classic sitting pose emanates fine clarity and contrast, depicting a sparkling array of rich hues within his stoic facial expression as well as the bright green background. Somewhat favoring the lower right edges, the relatively clean surfaces have eluded any glaring flaws, and we can only assume that modest corner wear (especially the lower right corner) accounts for the grade. It's no secret that the hobby is rapidly leaning towards "buying the card's aesthetics" along with the technical assessment, and this world-class Babe Ruth masterpiece certainly applies as one of those formidable mid-grade specimens meriting superlatives beyond its arguable strict grade. Superb mid-grade examples have fetched some extraordinary price tags, with another aesthetically brilliant PSA 5 EX #181 Ruth realizing $60K in a 2021 Memory Lane auction!

MIN BID $5,000
_