Circa 1948 Nat Fein "Babe Bows Out" Original Herald Tribune Photograph

Sold For:

$2,588

Year:

1948

Auction:

2004 Spring

Lot #:

638

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Original circa 1948 Herald Tribune/Fein stamped photographic print of Nat Fein's Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of Babe Ruth on June 13, 1948. This is an extraordinary period print of this famous photograph, dating from within a few years of 1948, with reverse stampings from the Herald Tribune, the paper for which Nat Fein worked and which introduced the image to the world on its front page. Many reproductions have been made of this photograph over the years; this is the first period print we have seen which is actually stamped with Herald Tribune and photographer identification stamps on its reverse. Babe Ruth was gravely ill with the cancer that would strike him down just two months later. In this photograph he stood for one last time in uniform on the field as the Yankees honored him with a ceremony retiring his uniform number. Out of all the photographers present on that memorable day, one man captured the essence of the event in a single image. Nat Fein of the New York Herald Tribune knelt behind Ruth, aimed his Speed Graphic camera and captured a priceless moment in American sports history. "Babe Ruth Bows Out" ran on the front page the next day and later became the first sports photograph to earn a Pulitzer Prize. Fein was asked why he broke a fundamental rule of photography and took the shot without showing Ruth's face. "The retiring of No. 3 was the story. You didn't need to see the Babe's face to recognize him. You'd recognize his great hulk and spindly legs anyplace. No one else had that particular angle, so it was a little something different." The original print is lightly stamped "Herald Tribune - Fein" on the reverse. A second stamp reads "For personal use only, Not for publication or advertising purposes without permission of New York Herald Tribune." A couple of small creases in the upper left corner and some light crazing in the background are present but do not significantly detract; the photo is otherwise in Nr/Mt condition with flawless contrast. Measures 7 5/8 x 9 inches. Reserve $200. Estimate $400/$800. SOLD FOR $2,587.50