Babe Ruth the subject of this vintage baseball photograph needs no introduction. The celebrated Sultan of Swat was Major League Baseballs most celebrated home run hitter in history who launched 714 round-trippers by the time he retired in 1935. Rather its the all-encompassing magnitude of its size condition and the rare salutation possessed by this classic 12 by 17 black-and-white photo that requires some explanation. The inscription by Ruth signed in black ink nearly 88 years ago on Christmas Day reads: To My Second Dad Harry M. Stevens From Babe Ruth Dec. 25th 1927. To anyone familiar with Ruths childhood the weight of this salutation is immediately palpable.

Harry Mozley Stevens was born on June 11 1855 in Derby England. When he turned 27 he migrated to America in search of work. His family settled in Niles Ohio where he worked as a steel mill worker for the next five years. It was during this time when Stevens started getting interested in baseball. He would bring his family to attend local games but they often complained that the games took too long. To remedy the boredom Stevens starting bringing food which they often shared with others at the games. In 1887 a steel-mill strike led Stevens and his brood to Columbus Ohio where he got a job as a book salesman. During this time he began attending Columbus Senators games in the former Ohio State League. Stevens however became increasingly frustrated that he couldnt recognize the visiting players or keep up with the action so he designed the very first baseball scorecard which allowed fans to become more involved in the action. His scorecard idea was an instant success which led Stevens to expand his new idea into Toledo Wheeling W.Va. Boston and Washington D.C.

His entrepreneurial spirit did not stop there however. He also worked hard to secure contracts to supply refreshments at several Major League ballparks across the country. In 1894 he got a contract with the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan the home of the New York Giants and for a short time the New York Yankees. It was during this time that his business began to blossom and soon he was the most successful concessionaire on the planet. On a cool day in April in 1901 Stevens ice cream wasnt selling well during a game at the Polo Grounds so he told his workers to round up all the Vienna rolls and dachshund sausages they could find. In a short amount of time the hot dog became a staple at ballparks.

While his business boomed into the early part of the 20th century Stevens struck up friendships with many of the ballplayers none more profound than with Babe Ruth. Hot dogs and beers were certainly a shared interest. It was after the 1927 season a campaign in which Ruth hit a then-record 60 home runs that the slugger presented this photo to Stevens with the personalized inscription. Documented as one of Stevens prized possessions it reportedly hung for a time in his office at the Polo Grounds. Impeccably framed and matted this museum-quality piece connects two of baseballs biggest influences one on the field of play and one off it. Its historical importance is only surpassed by its aesthetic magnificence.

Includes a full LOA from PSA/DNA (auto. grade GEM MINT 10).