Lot # 34: March 4, 1920 Babe Ruth Original Type 1 News Service Photo - First Appearance in a Yankees Uniform (HOF - PSA/DNA)

Category: Featured Items

Starting Bid: $3,000.00

Bids: 87 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
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This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer, 2024 Premier Auction",
which ran from 9/12/2024 4:00 AM to
9/28/2024 9:00 PM



Significant Type 1 news service photo depicting Babe Ruth during his very first appearance as a New York Yankee. Dated March 4, 1920 on verso, it remains one of three known Underwood & Underwood images to have been captured in Jacksonville, FL on this occasion. Newspaper archive research has revealed Ruth's first 1920 spring practice, and the first instance of him donning a New York uniform, took place two days prior, on March 2, 1920. Original Type 1 photos featuring the three individual Underwood shots have previously surfaced in the hobby, with each example bearing the same March 4 date on reverse. These images began appearing in newspapers nationwide the next day and are regarded as the first published depictions of the Bambino as a Yankee (we've included published examples in our online listing for reference). Several tears and pinholes are present around the perimeter of this photo and three of the four corners have chipped away. Masking agent has been removed from Ruth's chest area but remains applied above his shoulders and delicately outlining his facial features. Two pieces of brown tape are affixed to top edge of verso above various pencil notations, Underwood credit stamping, and a substantial paper caption. Overall dimensions of approx. 6.5" x 9". Authenticated and encapsulated as a Type 1 photo by PSA/DNA.

 
 

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