Babe Ruth is Back in Striking NFT Series on the WAX Blockchain
Artist William Quigley and William E. Quigley of WAX, collaborate to combine crypto, contemporary art, and Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Babe Bows Out” in a series of unforgettable NFTs to immortalize Babe’s legacy.
It’s June 13, 1948.
The Babe stands before a packed stadium full of tearful Yankees fans. He’s exhausted, worn, and says a tearful goodbye after 22 years of slugging the cover off the ball.
This moment was so captivating that it was captured and memorialized in the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo “The Babe Bows Out” by photographer Nat Fein. Fast forward to 2021 — the work has been breathtakingly brought back to life by famed contemporary artist William Quigley (not to be confused with Wax’s our very own founder William E. Quigley — although they happen to be great friends) in the much anticipated Skrapper Legends NFT collection.
Quigley is a famed contemporary and influential artist who has sold out his first show in 1985 right out of college, alongside icon Andy Warhol and since displayed his work in some of the most respected art galleries in the world, including Manny Silverman Gallery, Karl Hutter Fine Art, Keyes Gallery, AB NY Gallery, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Miro Foundation, Art Basel, MOCA LA, and Art Chicago.
In collaboration with Seth Lamburn, aka SkrapperPunk, the Skrapper Legends NFT collection combines Quigley’s passion for famous athletes, fine art, and crypto to celebrate the legendary athlete who stole America’s heart.
The official NFT artwork was rendered from a detail of a larger painting entitled “Baseball”, commissioned in 1998 by LA-based sports memorabilia dealer Dave Levin of GFG. The duo struck a deal that saw Quigley remaster the work for $18,000 in trading cards. The result was an 8 x 8 ft. painting now considered a contemporary masterpiece.
The Babe is Back
On June 22, fans will have the opportunity to purchase Skrapper Legend’s Series 1 NFT packs on the WAX Blockchain to receive artistically reimagined renditions of Babe Ruth’s famed Pulitzer Prize-winning photo.
These home run hitting collectibles will be available in three striking, animated rarities:
- Common (91.18% CHANCE) — 651 cards total
- Epic (8.40% CHANCE) — 60 cards total
- Legendary (0.42% CHANCE) — 3 cards total
A grand total of 714 packs will be up for grabs, representing Babe’s 714 total career home runs. Each pack will be sold for $100 and will contain a single (1) NFT with the potential of receiving one of three priceless Legendary NFTs.
His works have been appraised for millions of dollars and are owned by superstar athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Some collectors have been supporting Quigley’s art for years — like oncologist Dr. Ken and son Karl Tokita, retired CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald Phil Marber, Henry S. McNeil, Giel and Diane Milner (owning over 35 works), Pete Francis, of the band Dispatch, Shaquille O’neal, Yandex founder John and Johanna Boynton, philanthropist Gregory Brown, and owner of Electric Lady Studios Keith Stoltz (over 15 works). In 2015, entrepreneur Alexander Zweig purchased 13 works off Instagram in a single day through the introduction of collectors Senter Johnson and Brian Sullivan, who are now producing a documentary on the artist’s illustrious career.
In 2013, Quigley’s unique take on his 2006 portrait of Donald Trump sold for $70,000 to President Trump and is now valued at more than $1.3 million. Another contemporary masterpiece, based on a 1973 Avengers Marvel comic book cover, was created for actor Robert Downy Jr. and was commissioned for $50,000 by fellow star Chris Evans (recently valued at just shy of $1 million). Currently, Quigley is painting a $100,000 commission of Jimi Hendrix for Electric Lady Studio in NYC.
How to Buy
Click here at 1pm EST to claim yours, and begin unboxing your collectibles at 4pm EST the same day. Act quickly, these will go fast!
As a collector, you will have the option to hold, trade or resell your unopened packs and individual cards on the secondary marketplace.
Remember, there’s no rush to open your packs — all NFTs sold on WAX are pre-minted. Your odds of receiving a low mint number are the same regardless of when the pack was originally purchased.
Why WAX?
Purchasing NFTs on WAX and its associated marketplaces ensures a green future for the blockchain. Officially certified as carbon-neutral, WAX provides fans with the collectibles they desire, while offering the chance for partners and artists to flourish and supply valuable treasures for years to come.
Join together as a community to remember, honor, and celebrate “The Babe” in this remastered artwork from William Quigley in the Skrapper Legends NFT collection on WAX.
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- Discord: go.wax.io/Discord
- Twitter: go.wax.io/Twitter
- Website: wax.io
