1933 R319 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth - Signed!

Sold For:

$23,700

Year:

1933

Auction:

2013 Spring

Lot #:

927

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Although Babe Ruth's signature is by no means rare (he probably signed more items than any player in history), that does not imply that anything he signed is common. A perfect example is this extraordinary piece: a 1933 R319 Goudey Babe Ruth baseball card (#144) signed by Ruth across the front. This is one of only a small number of Babe Ruth signed 1933 Goudey cards we have ever seen (probably fewer than 10), and the first we have handled since 1999. Ruth has inscribed the card in black fountain pen across his image, "Sincerely/Babe Ruth," with both the salutation and signature grading "7/8." The combination of Ruth's signature and this particular card makes it not only one of the most elusive Ruth-signed items in the hobby, but one of the most prized and ideal-for-display as well. Ruth is featured on more than one card in the 1933 Goudey set; however, card #144, which features the Babe in his classic follow-through batting pose, is widely considered to be the ideal classic Babe Ruth bubble-gum card. Goudey must have also appreciated the beauty of this card, because of all the cards in the set this is the card it chose to double print when replacing the missing card #106 during production. Today, it remains one of Ruth's most popular and most recognizable baseball cards. An autographed example of this card is virtually nonexistent. Remarkably, this signed example was part of an original-owner complete 1933 Goudey set (238 cards, no #106 Lajoie and #207 Ott) consigned to this auction that had been saved by our consignor's uncle who lived in New York City until he recently passed away. We couldn't help but ask if the family had any insight into how he happened to have this Babe Ruth card signed, and were told that they really didn't know but that the uncle did go to a lot of Yankees games as a youngster and he very likely obtained Ruth's signature there. The balance of the set is presented separately in this auction. This is a spectacular newly discovered (to the modern collecting world) example of the quintessential Ruth-signed baseball card. The card is technically in Good condition due to a few light creases, corner wear, and minor staining on the reverse. However, it should be noted that the creases are much more noticeable on the reverse, and from the front, the card displays extremely well. LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $2,500. Estimate $5,000+.
SOLD FOR $23,700.00