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Graded EX-MT 6 by PSA. Presented is a stunning ultra high-grade example of one of collecting's most important cards: Babe Ruth's rookie card! The image presented on this card, of an extremely trim Babe Ruth as a pitcher for the Red Sox years before he became the game's greatest slugger, is instantly recognizable as one of card collecting's most famous. The 1916 H801-9 Globe set is identical to M101-4 Sporting News except for the different advertisement on the reverse. While all of the M101-4 related issues have the same fronts, a variety of different regional advertisers can be found on their reverses (Globe Clothing, Gimbels, Weil Baking, etc.) in addition to the more common The Sporting News and blank-backed cards. Though M101-4s are listed in the American Card Catalog as being issued with various backs, Jefferson Burdick elected to assign the Globe Clothing Store backs their own catalog number (H801-9). This is an extraordinary example of Babe Ruth's rookie card, universally regarded as one of the most significant cards in all of card collecting. It would be hard for a piece of cardboard to better symbolize the history, the essence of American sport, than this 1916 rookie card of Babe Ruth. Ruth had only pitched in four games with Boston in 1915 but fortunately impressed the card manufacturer enough to warrant inclusion in this major issue. This is an outstanding and extremely attractive example in all respects. Globe Clothing cards (like all M101-4/5 related sets) have a glossy coated surface which is very susceptible to creasing. The card grades a very conservative Excellent to Mint, bordering on Near Mint condition. It is bright, crisp, and perfectly clean front and back, with strong, square corners which exhibit just the slightest hint of wear under magnification. M101-4 and M101-5 Babe Ruth cards are usually plagued with two printing problems: very poor centering and a serious horizontal print line at the right center of the card. Searching auction catalogs will provide example after example of these two flaws on this card, both of which are related to the printing process. The offered example is exceptional in that it has far better centering than typically found. So many M101-4 Ruths are centered 80/20 left to right. The centering on this example is superb: slightly to the left, but far less so than normally found. The card has also entirely escaped the print line which is practically standard for the card. The reverse advertisement for Globe is bold, crisp, and perfectly centered. Over the past several decades, there has been an ever increasing appreciation for this card of Ruth from the classic M101-4/5 related sets. Ruth's rookie is one that transcends the the world of card collecting. This is, very simply, an amazing example in all respects of one of the most highly prized of all Babe Ruth and prewar-baseball cards. Reserve $25,000. Estimate $50,000++. SOLD FOR $142,200