This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/7/2022
Graded VG 3 by PSA. In 1916, Ruth won 23 games and posted a league-leading 1.75 ERA. He also threw nine shutouts—an American League record for left-handed pitchers that still stands. In Game Two of the World Series, Ruth pitched all 14 innings, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 2-1. Boston topped Brooklyn in the series four games to one. Although Ruth didn’t play every day until May 1918, the idea of putting him in the regular lineup was first mentioned in the press during his rookie season. Calling Babe “one of the best natural sluggers ever in the game,” Washington sportswriter Paul Eaton thought Ruth “might even be more valuable in some regular position than he is on the slab — a free suggestion for Manager Carrigan.” The Boston Post reported that summer that Babe “cherishes the hope that he may someday be the leading slugger of the country.” On May 6, 1918, in the Polo Grounds against the Yankees, Ruth played first base and batted sixth. It was the first time he had appeared in a game other than as a pitcher or pinch-hitter and the first time he batted in any spot other than ninth. Ruth went 2-for-4, including a two-run home run. At that point, five of Ruth’s 11 career home runs had come in New York. The Boston Post’s Paul Shannon began his game story, “Babe Ruth still remains the hitting idol of the Polo Grounds.” The next day, against the Senators, Ruth was bumped up to fourth in the lineup — and he hit another home run — where he stayed for most of the season. Barrow also wanted Ruth to continue pitching, but Babe, enjoying the notoriety his hitting was generating, often feigned exhaustion or a sore arm to avoid the mound. The overall presentation of the specimen has eye appeal that is superior to the technical grade; an admirable trait for any hobbyist searching for such a high-profile addition. The centering mildly favors the right in a very similar fashion to the PSA 7 example that just sold, with corners and edges that show expected signs of wear but generally not to the extent that you'd expect of a VG assessment. Perhaps most importantly, the image of Ruth is sharp with a very minimum of stray print that is inevitable in the gray backdrop. The blank back reverse shows some light spotting and staining, hardly a dealbreaker by any means, and the well-preserved layer of reflective gloss completes the package. Arguably the most important baseball card ever produced, and this one comes to you at the very highest end of the PSA 3 grading level.