Welcome to Lelands - Sports Memorabilia and Card Auctions

Lot # 1055: 1924 Babe Ruth "Salute" Original Photograph (PSA Type I)

Starting Bid: $300.00

Bids: 7 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Fall Classic",
which ran from 10/29/2023 7:00 PM to
11/18/2023 10:00 PM



Presented is a Type I Original News Photo of Babe Ruth, dressed in his military uniform, snapping a salute. In 1924, the United States was trying to increase the ranks of the Army and the National Guard. Who could gather more attention at that time than Babe Ruth? It seems that the Babe was convinced to join the 104th Artillery Division of the New York National Guard, essentially as a symbolic move. Babe continued to play baseball full time, so it appears that his national Guard service consisted of publicity work. The Babe, at 6'2" and 215 lbs., was a very large man for his time, and the army had trouble fitting him for a uniform. In 1924, Ruth led the AL in homers (46) and batting average (.378) and after getting out of the national Guard in '27, he promptly broke his own single-season homer record in bashing his famous 60 homers. In the presented photo, only Ruth, appearing very military-like, is snapping off a salute. In other photos made at the time, Ruth can be seen saluting famed Army general John. J. Pershing. Ruth never served on active duty in the military, and his time in the National Guard was essentially for public relations purposes. The original News Service photo comes from World Wide Photos, and it has been encapsulated and PSA certified Type I AUTHENTIC 1924. The photo has been diagonally cut in a spot of the top left corner, but it is otherwise in excellent condition.

Views: 595