The Babe seems like a strange choice of subject for a set issued in 1949 (and not even partially in 1948, despite the flip), almost a year after he died, but Chicago's Leaf Gum Company needed to make a splash as they took on Philadelphia's Bowman Gum in the growing postwar market for sports cards, especially baseball.  They were a bit garish and the quality control was haphazard but Leaf's first series boasted 49 colorful cards that were bigger and brasher than Bowman's offering that year.  Scoring Ruth as a subject was a major coup and with his August 1948 death fresh in the minds of the contrary and baseball fans in particular, his inclusion is a fitting tribute as well as a genius marketing move.

SGC has given a grade of Authentic to this well-loved example, which clearly shows signs of having been mounted in a scrapbook or album at some point in its 73 years of existence but also presents a still vibrant image of the Bambino in his classic Yankees cap. Here's a golden opportunity to pick up the king of all Hall-of-Famers without breaking the bank.