Lot # 686: 1922 E121 American Caramel (Series of 120) "Babe" Ruth Holding Bird SGC VG 40

Graded VG 40 by SGC. Very attractive 121 American Caramel card of Babe Ruth, one of several different cards of Ruth in the set, and certainly the most distinct and memorable. This card features one of the most unusual photographs of the Babe to ever appear on a card. He is pictured holding a bird, with an unidentified gentleman sharing the spotlight with him on the field to his right. For years, collectors wondered exactly what was happening in this photo, but the answer seemed forever lost. The mystery was solved courtesy of RMY Auctions, specialists in historic vintage photography. Its discovery and offering of an original news photograph of this very image with a caption attached provided the answer! In this photograph, Ruth released a carrier pigeon to relay the Cleveland vs. New York game score on September 26, 1921! The gentleman at his side is Charles Farbizo, a carrier-pigeon enthusiast, who, during this game, sent the score of the game to fans on New York's East Side every inning (as a test for use during the upcoming World Series). In the photo, Ruth's eyes are firmly fixed on the bird, which is what we would be doing if we were holding a bird, while Farbizo's gaze is toward the camera. The box at Ruth's feet is very likely the bird's carrying case. This is a fascinating card with a unique story. The offered card exhibits exceptional image clarity and moderate corner wear. Light creasing (more noticeable on the reverse) and a few small spots of paper loss along the right border contribute to the assigned grade. This is a strong mid-grade example of one of Babe Ruth's most interesting and unusual cards.