This crisp, hand-colored image of Babe Ruth dates to his arrival in New York, where the Yankees converted him to a full-time outfielder and he became the sport-defining titan who still holds all-time records for career slugging (.690) and OPS (1.164). The Babe draws top demand from any set he appears in, no matter the competition, and W520’s checklist contains just one other player of his stature, Giants legend Christy Mathewson. 

While the SGC AUTHENTIC grade reflects its uneven right border, the otherwise clean and crease-free surface puts it a cut above many other strip cards of this era. It proves tough to find this combination of sharp registration and bright colors, helping this stand out among any crowd!

Recent research suggests the Universal Toy & Novelty Company of Chicago produced this uncredited series of baseball strips as part of a larger, multi-subject issue with contemporary movie stars. (Baseball ran #1-20 and movies started at #21.) This printer also made “transfer stamps,” which rely on reversed images, and could explain why the southpaw Ruth throws right-handed on this card.