This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2023
This original snapshot captures the 20-year-old Ruth relaxing on a stone wall in Druid Hill Park in his hometown of Baltimore, MD. The inscription on the back reads “age 20” and, if correct, this would be circa 1915 when he was just beginning his career in Boston. Ruth would win 18 games for the World Champion Red Sox and go on to become the best left-handed pitcher in the American League. This incredible snapshot shows the future Sultan of Swat just a year out of St. Mary’s, relaxed and confident, his whole life and career ahead of him. The approx. 2.75" x 5" photo has many creases and missing pieces around its edges. A piece of vintage tape is affixed to the lower left, but despite these condition issues, the area with Ruth has escaped any major damage. The back of the piece has two vintage tape strips and several handwritten notations. An extraordinarily rare piece of baseball history that dates to the very start of Babe Ruth’s career. The photo has been encapsulated and authenticated as Type 1 by PSA/DNA. The "Ruth Collection" designation has been added to the PSA flip denoting that this original photo was derived from Ruth's personal collection.