Auction Item Details
Lot 960
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Lot Number: 960
Description: Rare photograph attributed to Babe Ruth c. 1911-1914. Small 21/2"x4" sepia tone image of eight young ballplayers standing together on a field. Standing to the far right is a strapping young man believed to be Babe Ruth. This image was discovered in an estate last year and since has been researched by the consignor, Hunt Auctions,Inc. and several other respected sources. The conclusion has been overwhelmingly positive in that the young man pictured in this image is Babe Ruth. We will provide some conclusions in this description but feel free to call for more details as we will be researching this piece up until the auction date. The first conclusion and most obvious is the person to the far right bears an identical appearance to that of Ruth from that era inclusive of facial features, height, etc. Secondly the image is very similar to a photograph currently housed in the Babe Ruth Museum in Balt, MD including several of the other players in the image. In the Ruth museum image the Balt. Orioles were headed down to Fayetteville, NC for spring training in 1914 when the photo was taken. It is our belief that this is a photo of Babe Ruth with either some Oriole teamates or quite possibly some friends from St. Mary's School where he had previously attended. The offered image is mounted on a period mount and retains strong clarity and contrast. Accompanied by a letter of opinion form Greg Schwalenberg of the Babe Ruth Museum and a copy of the similar photo in the museum collection. While it is not possible to "guarantee" this player to be Babe Ruth, we can certainly state it is our firm opinion based upon the forementioned facts and comparison to other period images of Ruth that this is in fact a very early original image of Babe Ruth. Exceptional early image of the legendary slugger from Baltimore: EX
Estimated Price: $2,000.00-$4,000.00
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