When this picture was taken during Spring Training 1918, it was becoming clear that Babe Ruth was being underutilized by only hitting on the days he pitched and he would find himself playing some outfield too. He would win his first home run title by the end of the season with a whopping 11 round trippers and although he was a bona fide star, nobody could have predicted that he would transform the game and the entire world in the process! Nobody was a bigger star than Ruth and he was a household name all over the globe. His feats are legendary and his personality bigger than life, but before all that, he was a pitcher and part time outfielder for the Boston Red Sox! The offered photograph is a bold silver gelatin image which presents in fine condition for the age overall with some light wear and a bit of corner creasing, but it is a clean double weight silver gelatin original that presents well. One of the most iconic images of Ruth ever taken, he is permanently captured here in suspended animation busting out of the box and about to drop the bat after slamming one to right field. While it is not known the exact date or location, the setting appears to be Spring Training in Hot Springs, Arkansas. One of the most important early images we have offered, this is a piece of baseball history that is sure to excite even the most advanced collectors! While the photo is off a duplicate negative it appears to be based on the composition of the image and the style of photography to us to be a period career image of Ruth (1930's) but it has been authenticated by PSA as c. 1940's. We feel this is absolutely a pre WWII image, but either way it fits within our designation of 25 years to be a "vintage 3" example. The photo was long ago adhered to an extra layer of paper during the editorial and publication process by Culver and their stamps sdorn the back. Comes complete with a PSA/DNA letter and it is a fantastic alternative to a $100,000 original example!

Size: 7.75x10
Designation: Vintage 3(b)
Condition: 3.5/5
Quality: 4/5
Overall Grade: 7.5/10