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Lot # 2: 1928 "The Greatest Hitters in Baseball History" Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker

Starting Bid: $25.00

Bids: 52 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall Collectors Auction 2022",
which ran from 10/4/2022 12:00 AM to
10/22/2022 8:00 PM



When ranking the greatest hitters of the 20th century, the list was easy, it was just what order you had them in! Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig and Tris Speaker took a rare opportunity to pose together when the Yankees and Athletics played against each other on opening day in 1928. While the event was an exciting moment for all fans involved, a savvy photographer from the International News took the chance to get all four superstar sluggers together in a photo and boy are we thankful he did. Ruth and Gehrig are on the outer flanks wearing their full uniform and with their bright new team jackets while Speaker and Cobb pose on the inner part of the group. Perhaps this was intentional placement. This is only the second example of this image we have ever personally handled and this is a new discovery that is being offered here for the first time ever. An important piece of baseball history that has to be one of the greatest images of these men ever taken and it represents a literal changing of the guard in the game of baseball as the dead-ball was out and a new breed of slugger was taking center stage! The photo has been trimmed down a touch by a newspaper artist (completely original and untouched by anyone since 1928) and it has one small corner chip which represents the only flaw. There is a faint International News stamp on the back which will cement this as a Type 1 from PSA and a secondary stamp from King Features as well. A Hall of Fame worthy relic from the greatest hitters in the game!

Size: 3.5x6.75
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 9/10

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