Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
The Babe made headlines not only for his terrific clouts, but also for his injuries. This extraordinary grouping recalls one of his most famous: "Boston Charlie Horse". Playing the Red Sox in Boston on April 23, 1931, Ruth doubled in the 6th inning. Gehrig then hit a single and The Babe slid hard into third, pulling up lame. Ruth called time and limped around the bag gingerly and then rubbed his left leg as the whole of Fenway Park watched. When play resumed Tony Lazzeri promptly hit a sacrifice fly. Ruth tagged up and charged home as catcher Charlie Berry blocked home plate with the ball. Ruth crashed right into the Boston catcher and the two wound up in a dusty heap of arms, legs and equipment. Out of the jumble Ruth reached out and slapped his hand down on the plate: SAFE! According to newspaper reports, the Bambino picked himself up, smiled broadly and walked briskly to the dugout.
When the Yankees took the field for the bottom of the 6th, The Babe seemed fine until he chased a fly ball and collapsed heavily onto the Fenway grass. A squad of Yankees, including Lou Gehrig carried Ruth back to the dugout where he was rushed to Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. Dr. Francis Newton took over Ruth's case and diagnosed him with a large bruise resulting in a severe charlie horse. Dr. Newton issued a statement to the press saying that unless properly rested for several weeks the injury could cause a "chronic charlie horse" resulting in Ruth's "gradual disablement".
Ruth spent almost a week in Dr. Newton's care and newspapers across the country carried daily updates on his progress. The doctor and his nurses took great care to make their famous patient as comfortable as possible and The Babe was touched by their kindness. When he was finally discharged, the press followed as he was wheeled out of Brigham Hospital and placed on the train to New York. The sporting world gravely speculated on whether or not he would ever be the same player again. After almost 3 weeks away from the team, Ruth was finally back in the lineup and upon receiving a note from Dr. Newton sent him a signed photo of himself and the good doctor along with his nurse and Mrs. Ruth. The note, typewritten on The Babe's personal stationery, thanks Dr. Newton and the nurses for his good care and tells him that "I am feeling myself again". He notes that he included a few autographed photographs and remarks on his own poor typing skills: "Doc this is my own typewriting not so bad for a novice". The note shows some aging and light storage stains and the back has some paper glued to it from its being mounted in a scrapbook. None of this distracts from this attractive letter and The Babe's black fountain pen signature is 10/10. The 6 1/2" x 9" sepia tone photo is in excellent shape though it has been trimmed by hand and like its accompanying note the back has the remains of the scrapbook it was originally displayed in. Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA. LOA from our consignor, Alan Newton, grandson of Dr. Newton who treated Babe Ruth.