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1915 Boston Red Sox World Series Pitching Staff with Rookie Babe Ruth Original Underwood & Underwood News Service Photograph - PSA/DNA Type I

Sold For: $49,200
Year: 1915
Auction: 2020 Fall
Lot #: 5
Auction: Featured
Extraordinary original news photo capturing Babe Ruth posing together with the four other members of the vaunted 1915 Boston Red Sox pitching staff. Encapsulated and certified as an original Type I photograph by PSA/DNA. An "Underwood & Underwood" proprietary stamp appears on the reverse. The accompanying original paper news caption, which has detached from the reverse, is dated 10/7/15 and reads "BOSTON RED SOX PITCHERS WHO WILL PIT THEIR SKILL AGAINST 'PHILLIES' IN WORLD SERIES - That Boston will not be shy of pitchers when the Red Sox team faces the Philadelphia Nationals in the post season series is seen by five of the aggregation of pitchers on whom Manager Carrigan will call, to pit their ability and science against the cleverness of the pitchers of Manager Pat Morans' team." Although not named in the caption, the pitchers depicted here, left to right, are Rube Foster, Carl Mays, Ernie Shore, Babe Ruth, and Dutch Leonard. When this photo was taken, little could anyone have imagined what fate had in store for the youngest member of Boston's pitching staff as he posed here prior to taking part in his first World Series. Ruth fashioned an impressive 18-6 record during his rookie campaign but unfortunately was passed over in the World Series as Foster and Shore handled most of the load, winning three games between them in Boston's five-game victory over the Phillies. Ruth's lone appearance in the Series was as a pinch-hitter in Game 1, when he grounded out. Few quality images of Ruth exist dating to his 1915 rookie season, and this example is undoubtedly one of the finest known. The photo, which displays remarkable clarity, is also notable in that it pictures a full-length image of Ruth, who, as one can plainly see here, was remarkably trim in his youth. The photo, which measures an impressive 10 x 7 inches (larger than most news photos), displays three minor edge tears, a tiny corner chip in the upper right, and a few very slight surface wrinkles. Despite the minor flaws, the photo retains an Excellent to Mint appearance. This is simply one of the finest early Ruth photos extant and one that would be a worthy highlight in any advanced collection. Reserve $10,000. Estimate (open).
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