Large format vintage photographic print, produced in 1948, capturing Babe Ruth posing with members of the New York sportswriter's fraternity at a special "Back to the Farm" dinner held at the Elk's Club in New York in 1922. This was a special presentation piece given to sportswriter Alan Gould by Christy Walsh, Babe Ruth's agent, in 1948, which was a few months after Ruth's death. It has been inscribed by Walsh in black fountain pen (grading 10/10) in the upper right corner "For Joe Gould/with all good wishes/Christy Walsh/25 years later." Ruth is pictured posing with the members of the press, including Christy Walsh, Alan Gould, Bozeman Bulger, Joe Bihler, Bill Slocum, and Sam Crane, as well as former Yankees owner T. L. Huston. All the attendees pictured are identified in print at the base of the photo. 

The reason for this dinner is explained an accompanying one-page typed letter, dated November 15, 1948, from Walsh to Alan Gould, which was originally sent with the photo to Gould. As noted in the letter, the dinner was arranged so that the press could have an "intervention" with Ruth in the hopes that he would give up his carousing and focus more on baseball. To that point, they admonished him that he should spend the winter on his farm in the Boston area with his wife and rededicate himself to the game of baseball. Ruth complied and the next year he led the Yankees to their first World Championship in franchise history. 

The photo (19.5x15"), which was once rolled when originally sent to Gould, displays several vertical creases. However, the print has been dry-mounted to a cardboard backing of the same size, which has ameliorated many of the flaws associated with the creasing. Very Good to Excellent in its overall appearance. The letter (8.5x11"), which has been signed "Christy" in black fountain pen and also bears a handwritten postscript, displays mailing folds, toning and several moderate tears. It has been mounted upon a paper backing and displays both tape and tape residue along the borders. In Fair condition overall.