Jul 17, 2024 - Aug 3, 2024
From Babe Ruth to Hank Aaron, Chicago photographer George Burke took some of the most iconic portraits from baseball’s Golden Age. In this early 1930's original print, Burke captures a pensive Babe Ruth perched on the top steps of the Comiskey Park dugout, bat in hand, watching the action unfold on the field. This wonderful photo has been further enhanced by it having been signed by Babe Ruth and gifted to Ed Hughes, longtime sports columnist and cartoonist for the New York Evening Mail, New York Evening Sun and Brooklyn Eagle. The Babe has carefully penned the inscription “To My Friend Ed Hughes From Babe Ruth August 8, 1933” in strong black fountain pen. The inscription and signature leap off the muted, golden tones of the print, making this a very visually attractive piece.
The image has been roughly trimmed on the left side. There is also a piece missing from the bottom left corner along with some chipping on the upper left edge and various creases and surface scuffs. The reverse is unmarked and shows toning and overall staining from age. A layer of mounting paper has been added to the back for preservation and display purposes. A very atmospheric shot of the Bambino made even more desirable through its connection to one of the well-known sportswriters of baseball’s Golden Age, Ed Hughes.
Ed Hughes is blood relative of our consignor on his mother's side, and the photo has been a family heirloom for generations. The autograph has been encapsulated and graded Mint 9 by PSA/DNA. The photo itself would be authenticated as a true Type 1 if not for the mounting layer on the reverse. (We checked with PSA's Henry Yee.)
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