In 1935 Babe Ruth was at the end of his career. The big man was 40 years old that spring, and the Yankees, the club who he made the most successful sports franchise in history, no longer needed his services. Though his reflexes were a bit slower and his outfield work wasn’t what it used to be, Babe Ruth figured he still had something left in his tank. Besides, Babe Ruth was still the biggest name in baseball, and thousands would come out just to see him play. The Boston Braves agreed, and Ruth signed for the 1935 season. Though Ruth hit a disappointing .181, he did give thousands of National League fans the chance to see him take the field. 1935 wasn’t without its Ruthian moments, however, including a three-home run game in Pittsburgh shortly before he finally called it quits. Sometime during 1935, the Babe signed and inscribed this bat, and although we cannot say for sure, this may have been when the Boston Braves played an exhibition game against the Newark Bears on April 7, 1935.

     The Bears were the Yankees top farm club, and chances are that the Babe knew several of the Newark players. Ruth truly put on a show that afternoon, hitting two solo home runs, the second one a tremendous 500 foot shot off Bob Miller that exited Rupert Stadium and landed in the street. Actual footage from the game can be seen at Getty Images (http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/news-footage/mr_00006082). The Hillerich & Bradsby Babe Ruth model bat shows heavy use, although use of this bat by Ruth cannot be confirmed. There are many cleat imprints and abrasions throughout and a roughly 1” piece has been chipped from the knob end. The barrel has some checking from repeated ball contact and dry wood. However, the most important aspect of this bat is the Babe’s signature. A portion of the barrel adjacent to the stamped signature has been sanded, and Ruth has written “Regards to all the fellows on the Newark club “1935” Sincerely Babe Ruth” in black fountain pen. Babe Ruth’s signature on the very instrument that made him an American icon - to call this a museum piece would be an understatement. The bat comes with an LOA from JSA (148535) for the signature.

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