Today's new stock item is an instant home run.
I'm excited to offer it, because I know just how good it is.
It's a signed photo from the most famous sportsman in U.S history.
The legendary Babe Ruth.
And it features the finest example of his signature I've ever handled.
This is a magnificent display piece for your collection.
It has a special magic all of its own.
And it's available at a very attractive price.
Here's your chance to see it before anyone else.
An American legend.
“I swing big, with everything I’ve got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can.” Babe Ruth's name defines baseball.
His style, swagger and incredible hitting transformed the sport forever.
He won it all. And when he retired in 1935 he held an astonishing 56 MLB records – some of which have never been broken.
But Ruth was far more than just a remarkable baseball player.
He was a larger-than-life character who defined the American dream.
A simple guy with a god-given talent, who rose from humble origins in a Baltimore reform school to become the most famous man in the nation.
He was a folk hero to millions during the Great Depression, and has been described as "a unique figure in the social history of the United States".
So a Babe Ruth signature isn't just for sports fans.
It's an essential American autograph every collector should own.
And here's a wonderful example you can own today.
A collector's dream.
It's a vintage glossy 8 x 10 full-length photo of Ruth dated circa 1929.
A classic portrait with rich sepia tones from a golden age.
The photo features Ruth in full swing, during batting practice at the New York Yankees' spring training camp in Florida.
With his bat raised over his shoulder and his eyes on the horizon, it shows Ruth doing what he did best: swatting a home run out of the park.
You couldn't hope for a better pose.
I believe the unusual angle of the photo helps to date the image.
The Yankees introduced numbers to their jerseys in 1929, and I suspect this portrait was taken to show off the new number '3' on Ruth's back.
(Ruth was third in the Yankees fearsome batting line-up, and his number '3' jersey was retired by the team in 1948.)
It's certainly a rare image - so rare that I've never seen another signed copy for sale anywhere else.
The photograph itself has creasing to several areas, with scattered spots and a couple of small tears.
Just like Ruth, this is a photo that's experienced some life over the years.
But these issues melt away when you see the signature.
Signed by the Sultan of Swat.
Ruth's signature on this photograph is truly first-rate.
In terms of quality and condition, I'd rate it 9/10.
It's large and bold, signed in brilliant blue fountain pen ink.
And it displays beautifully, as clear as the day Babe Ruth signed it.
The inscription itself is also intriguing.
'Buster Bates' sounds like a character from a 1930s comic book.
The only possible baseball link I've turned up with the same name is a 1940s-era Fastball League player from Columbus, Ohio.
So did Ruth sign this photo for a fellow pitcher during a visit to the Buckeye State? We'll probably never know.
But the name only adds to the character and charm of this piece.
And in my view, it makes this superb photo all the more collectible.
A view of the market.
The strength and continuing growth of the Babe Ruth memorabilia market is clearly illustrated by two sales in the past 12 months alone.
In April 2023 a bat used by Ruth circa 1921-22 set a world record for any baseball bat when it sold for $1.85 million.
The same bat had previously sold in 2018 for $400,000 – meaning it had more than quadrupled in value in just five years.
And in December 2023 a Babe Ruth rookie card, dating from his 1914 debut season with the Baltimore Orioles, sold at auction for $7.2 million.
The last Ruth rookie card to appear at auction had sold in 2013 for $450,000 – a remarkable 1500% increase in value in the space of a decade.
These were just the latest record-breaking sales which have established Babe Ruth as the most valuable figure in all of sports collecting.
Previous record sales include:
• Ruth's signed contract which took him to the Yankees from the Boston Red Sox in 1919, which sold in 2017 for $2.3 million.
• His 1928-29 Yankees jersey which sold in 2019 for $5.64 million – a then-record sum for any piece of sports memorabilia.
• And his 1927-33 era glove which sold in November 2022 for $1.53 million - a world record for any baseball glove.
So if you're looking for a name from sports history with an established track record of huge prices and ever-increasing values...
They don't come any bigger or better than Babe Ruth.
Own this special photo today.
Babe Ruth is an American folk hero. An icon of the 20th century.
And simply the greatest player in baseball history.
That's why collectors have prized his autographs for over a century.
And with every passing year their rarity and value increases.
This is the first Babe Ruth signed photograph I've offered in a long time.
It's also the finest.
When you combine the rarity of the image, the sublime inscription and the incredible quality of the signature...
You have a piece which would stand out in any collection.
So make sure that collection is yours.
This photograph is brand new in stock today.
You can purchase it now for just £7,500 ($9,485).
And you have 3 simple ways to place your order.
- Click 'Buy now' to shop in our online store
- Email info@paulfrasercollectibles.com
- Or call us on +44 (0) 1534 639 998
Your personal guarantee.
You can place your order today in complete confidence.
Because this wonderful signed photograph comes with:
- Free global delivery
- A Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity
- And a Paul Fraser Collectibles Certificate of Authenticity
So if you decide it's not right for you, you're free to return it - no questions asked.
I've been helping clients build their collections for 45 years.
So if you have any questions about this piece, get in touch today.
Email me now at info@paulfrasercollectibles.com.
Or call me on +44 (0) 1534 639 998.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Until next time,
Paul Fraser.
