Unlike most ballplayers, Babe Ruth remained as busy in retirement as he was when he was a player. After his final season in 1935, the Babe found he could not stay far away from the game that made him the most famous man in America. He spent 1938 as a coach for the Dodgers and then became baseball’s unofficial good will ambassador, spreading the game to the far reaches of the country. His 20 years of unparalleled excellence as a player made him a legend in his own time. When war broke out in 1941, the Babe began a one-man war against the Axis, tirelessly appearing in War Bonds exhibition games and giving patriotic speeches nation-wide. Thus, even years removed from his playing days, the Babe remained the living face of our National Pastime. It was some time during the early 1940s that Babe Ruth signed this 1940-1942 Reach Official American League Harridge ball. As was his custom, Ruth signed right on its sweet spot in bold black fountain pen. The ball shows some scuffing and toning throughout, and a coat of shellac has been applied. A very attractive example of a single-signed Ruth. The ball comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A56085) for the signature.

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