CSG Grades Card with Babe Ruth and Roger Maris Signatures

Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) recently graded a rare signature card featuring authentic autographs from two baseball legends, Babe Ruth and Roger Maris. The 2016 Leaf Executive Collection Cut Signature Babe Ruth/Roger Maris Red & Silver card was graded CSG 9, with a CSG 9 for the Autographs.

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Introduced in 2011, the Leaf Executive Signature Collection features rare autographs cut from an original item, such as a photo or magazine, and encapsulated in a Signature Card. The program also allowed collectors to submit their own verified autographs to be encased inside a custom card. Along with athletes, signature cards were produced for other celebrities, musicians and even politicians. In 2012, Leaf began offering double-sided signature cards, such as this one featuring Babe Ruth and Roger Maris. Leaf ended this line of cards in 2018.

By 1933, Babe Ruth had cemented his reputation as one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport. Known as “The Sultan of Swat,” Ruth established hitting records that stood for decades, including netting 714 career home runs. Most of his 22 seasons from 1913 to 1935 were spent with the New York Yankees, who retired his jersey number (3).

Most of Roger Maris’ 12 seasons from 1957 to 1968 were spent with the Yankees, who also retired his jersey number (9). He is best remembered for his 61 home runs in the 1961 season. This surpassed Ruth’s record of 60 in 1927, but some argued Ruth’s achievement should stand because he accomplished it in a shorter season.