Goldin Elite Auction Closing August 22 10PM Est
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/23/2020
Graded NM-MT 8 by PSA. Hall of Famer. Among more than 1,100 copies recorded in PSA’s census reporting, just seven examples have attained a higher, unqualified tier. Of the four Babe Ruth cards included in the 1933 Goudey set, number 181 offers the largest center image of the Bambino. In the detailed casting of his face, seen only on number 181, the observer is allowed to actually view the components of the legend's unique persona. Determination tempered by kindness, and flamboyance justified by confidence, are visible in the perfectly textured face of Ruth as displayed on this superb collectible. This is one of the hobby's favorite career-contemporary cards of the immortal ballplayer, and the bold, vibrant palette of colors and fantastic clarity in this superior example appear unaffected by time. A quick glance at this piece will affirm the card's incredible eye appeal and the accuracy of its "NM-MT" grading assessment. A longer look will allow those attributes to enchant the viewer. Clean white borders frame a vivid, precisely focused image. All four corners are solid and sharply pointed, and the card displays balanced, remarkably well-calibrated symmetry in its centering alignment, a feature that's particularly noteworthy in the 1933 Goudey issue. The card's reverse is very bright, white, and boldly inked. The print resolution and overall crispness of Ruth's image on the front of this piece is dramatic, and its visual impact cannot be overstated. This is one of only a handful of baseball cards that legitimately aspires to transcend the hobby, and it stands as a classic treasure of paper Americana. Here is a superlative example of one of the great Ruth's most coveted cards, a classic in every sense of the word. Exquisite Near Mint to Mint condition.