Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
Nat Fein was employed at the New York Herald Tribune from 1933 – 1966, when the paper closed its doors. He began as a copy boy, and then worked his way up to staff photographer, capturing human interest images in and around New York City. During World War II, Fein worked as an Air Force photographer.
During Fein’s career at the Herald Tribune, he became close friends with Terence McCarten, another of the paper’s human interest staff photographer’s. McCarten would gravitate to political imagery, began following the Kennedy’s and becoming close personal friends with Robert F. Kennedy. (A dual signed RFK and JFK original photograph is in this auction and was consigned by the McCarten family).
This approximately 9.5 x 13 inch “The Babe Bows Out” original photograph was developed by Nat Fein from his original negatives, was signed and inscribed to Terry McCarten directly from Fein, and has also consigned by the McCarten family.
The 1948 season was the 25th anniversary of the House That Ruth Built, and also the day Babe’s number was to be retired. The Yankees invited all the remaining players from that 1923 team to the Stadium for Ruth’s’ final salute. Ruth, thin and frail from the cancer ravaging his once strong body, emerged from the dugout into what was said at the time “the caldron of sound he must have known better than any other man.” Everyone knew then the Babe was wearing his old uniform for the last time, and died only two months later on August 16th, 1948.
The image was originally used by the New York Herald Tribune, which first published “The Babe Bows Out” on the evening of Sunday June 13th, 1948. The photograph was buried in the sports section of the paper as the editors hastily found a place for the article in the evening edition. The next day, the Tribune carried “The Babe Bows Out” on the front page and the photograph later went on to win a 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Nat Fein. In 1999, “The Babe Bows Out” photo was hailed by Life Magazine as one of the greatest pictures of the twentieth century, was the first sports photograph to win a Pulitzer, and is simple the greatest sports photograph of all time!
Interestingly, the sports photographer supposed to cover the event for the Herald Tribune called out sick that June day and Fein was sent to Yankee Stadium in his place. What a stroke of luck for Fein...and for baseball fans the world over.
Fein knew that the Yankees were retiring the Babe’s number that day so he wanted to make sure he included his iconic number in his photos. In Fein’s own words, “He (Ruth) came over to home plate. Of course, the story was No. 3 bows out, the uniform being retired and all, and as they played 'Auld Lang Syne,' I was trying to make a picture showing No. 3, but it's only on his back. So I walked around behind with the band still playing 'Auld Lang Syne' and there was his figure, his thin legs compared to his bulky body, and his No. 3 showing. So I made the picture from his back.” The image also shows the short porch in right field where hundreds of Ruth’s “Bambino Blasts” flew screaming over the wall and several of the World Champion banners Ruth helped the Yankees win including the 1923 banner just above Ruth’s head.
This copy of the photo was produced by Nat Fein himself from the original negative, likely after the image received the Pulitzer Award in 1949. It was signed and inscribed in the lower right hand corner “To my good friend Terry – Nat Fein” and hung on the wall of the McCarten home for decades until it was consigned to this Centennial Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary auction. It contains a few light wrinkles and some crazing as most prints this old will contain. The entire edge area on the reverse is affixed with period tape. While this picture hung in the McCarten residence, the photo was taped to the original matting. Several portions of this matting still remain on the tape, and there is a small area of the image, Ruth’s entire left foot, was lost during the removal process. This tape could easily be cut away or hidden by a new matting and framing. In addition, the last name “Fein” has been lightly traced over in some areas.
This is one of the most intriguing examples of this photograph extant, made by Nat Fein and given to his best friend Terence McCarten. Except for Nat Fein’s personal copy, which sold for almost $48,000 in August 2010, the “McCarten Babe Bows Out” photo is one of the most important examples personally developed by Nat Fein which was presented to his closest friend. This lot also comes with an 8 x 10 inch photo of Nat Fein holding his award winning Ruth image receiving another prestigious award, with Terry McCarten to his left holding a copy of his trotter racing photo which won him an award. Two award winning best friends. Full LOA from PSA/DNA for the signature and inscription. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication for the signature and inscription.