1921 E121 American Caramel (Series of 80) "Babe" Ruth PSA VG+ 3.5

Sold For:

$43,050

Year:

1921

Auction:

2025 October

Lot #:

3

Category:

Prewar Baseball Cards (1900-1941)

Graded VG+ 3.5 by PSA. Outstanding mid-grade E121 American Caramel card of Babe Ruth. This is one of the premier early Ruth cards and one of the very few dating from the early 1920s. The offered card has superb image clarity, crisp white borders, and honest corner wear. Boldly printed reverse displaying a few small wrinkles. One of several different cards of Ruth in the E121 set, this is one of the all-time classic Ruth cards of the 1920s. Referred to on checklists as the Babe Ruth "Babe" variation, this popular card features Ruth in a full-length throwing pose. It is interesting to note that the young but already very celebrated Ruth is pictured on this card in a Boston uniform, though he is appropriately identified below as a member of the New York Americans. "Boston" (mostly covered by Ruth's throwing arm) can be clearly seen across Ruth's chest upon close examination. In fact, this photograph is the same image that was used on Ruth's 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy candy card. Apparently, the American Caramel Company was going to print and did not have the time to pursue an updated image of Ruth with his new team. This is a tremendous example of this classic Babe Ruth card worthy of any advanced Babe Ruth or prewar-card collection.