Charles Conlon is without a doubt the most famous photographer in baseball history. He was one of the first to take his camera to the ballpark and capture the heroes of the national pastime in their natural setting, and his work inspired thousands of copycats, essentially creating an industry in his wake. Throughout the years leading up to WWII his images became synonymous with the game of baseball, but they often were simple, functional, and sometimes even boring. Most are head shots showing little emotion captured on the dugout steps and few showed even a hint of artistic expression as that was not Charles Conlon's style. There are a few images however, where the old man really lets his creative side fly and this is what we think is the finest example of Conlon using art to promote the game he loved. At the height of Babe Ruth's fame, Conlon took a single image of the sluggers hands showing how he holds the bat at the plate, leaving the dugout and the expressionless face of the player nowhere to be found and focusing his lens on the nuance of the grip instead. A simplistic masterpiece, this is the finest Charles Conlon image, all things considered, we have ever handled and are pleased to offer here for the first time ever. We can find no other examples of this photograph in print, or original form leading us to believe it may be a unique survivor in the hobby. The silver gelatin original masterpiece remains here in nearly perfect condition with the slightest handling wear to the corners and a few light bends to the lower left border. The reverse has the simple notation in Charles Conlon's hand "Babe Ruth, Home Run Grip, Clear to the End of the Handle" and then the icing on the cake is Conlon's own handwritten signature of "Conlon Photo" on the lower right partially covered in tape from publication. One of the most important pieces of baseball photography that exists and one that is sure to be the cornerstone of even the most advanced collection. We use the term "baseball as art" from time to time, but in this case the photo could be hanging in the finest gallery in America and would fit in next to the work of true masters!

Size: 6.5x8.5
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 9.5/10