1948-49 Leaf Babe Ruth #3 SGC NM-MT 8 - MBA Silver! Babe Ruth went from his days as a baseball player at Baltimore's ...
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Description
1948-49 Leaf Babe Ruth #3 SGC NM-MT 8 - MBA Silver! Babe Ruth went from his days as a baseball player at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys (through 1913) to a top American League pitcher with the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees as the greatest home run hitter baseball had ever seen, and he did it all in the span of less than seven years. And here is a card issued in 1948, 13 years after his final Major League appearance - a great, very rare card regarded as the last major card issued for Ruth, as subsequent cards issued by major card manufacturers are thought of more as commemorative cards.Ruth was a wonderful pitcher, having a 94-46 lifetime record with a career ERA at 2.28. He once held the record for the most consecutive scoreless innings in the World Series at 29.2. Then as a slugging Yankee outfielder, on the way to his then record 714 lifetime home runs, he was so far ahead of his competition that in both 1920 and 1927 he single-handedly hit more home runs than each of the other American League teams. The Sultan of Swat made his final Yankee Stadium appearance on June 13, 1948, as, ravaged by cancer, he needed to lean on a baseball bat to stand to deliver a farewell address. He passed away in two months, on August 16th.
Most likely, Leaf intended the card as a farewell to the Babe. The card itself is memorable for its dignified simplicity. Under the Babe's photo is a black banner with only the words "Babe Ruth." A tremendous addition to any collection - there is only one Babe Ruth. Graded SGC NM-MT 8. With over 600 entries on the census there are only four rated higher. With MBA Silver Diamond certification.
Guide Value or Estimate: $30,000 - up.
Auction Info
2026 July 10 - 11 Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction #50086 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
June
19th
Friday
Auction Dates
July
10th-11th
Friday-Saturday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
14 Days
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 42
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