OK, so you're an advanced collector but the timing just wasn't right for you to go after the PSA 7 example of Babe Ruth's 1916 M101-4 rookie card in our last auction. And by timing, I mean you didn't have a few million dollars lying around in your discretionary fund. Yeah, me too. However, fate has dealt you a second chance to acquire a respectable example of perhaps the most important rookie card ever produced, in any sport. Even though Ruth had a breakout season with an 18-8 record and 2.44 ERA at just 20 years old, he wasn't high on the radar of collectors in the New England area in a set loaded with established superstars like Cobb, Wagner, J. Jackson, W. Johnson, and Alexander. In his 3 seasons as a full-time pitcher, Ruth posted a combined 65-33 record with an astonishing 2.01 ERA but it was becoming apparent that his time at the plate was beginning to overshadow his advanced pitching skills. Boston tried to have the best of both worlds, cutting some of his time on the mound to get him more plate appearances. By 1919, Ruth's time on the mound was scaled back even more but he still posted a 9-5 record on the bump with 432 at-bats yielding 29 homers, 113 RBI, and 103 runs scored, all league-leading numbers. While the featured card carries a modest grade of PSA 3, 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.
ADDENDUM++++ Please note the November/Dec. Extra Innings Auction has been extended and will now end Wednesday December 8th. The reason for this is that the offered card a 1916 Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth PSA 3 unbeknownst to us had a serial number that had been deactivated because of potential fraud. The card offered is indeed 100% authentic. Once we learned of this issue we sent the card to PSA to be re-holdered and have a new serial number placed on it. With this happening so close to the end of this online auction and the auction being so centric to this card, we made the decision to extend the bidding on the entire auction which will now close Wednesday December 8, 2021.