This lot closes on May 22nd, 2021 at 10:00 PM EDT for initial bids.

While Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig may not have invented “Barnstorming,” they (and Ruth’s longtime agent Christy Walsh) certainly perfected the practice during the off-seasons of 1927 and 1928, taking their names and legends to remote outposts across the country where big- league-baseball-starved fans were able to get an up close and personal look at their heroes. In a pre-cursor to modern fantasy camps many semi-pro players and locally assembled nines were also afforded the opportunity to play with and against a pair of baseball’s greatest legends. What began as “Ruth vs. Gehrig – the Battle For The Home Run Title Continues” after the pair’s exciting home run race of 1927, evolved into “Bustin’ Babe’s and Larrupin’ Lou’s Barnstorming Tour” making its way across the country with an extended stay in California.

Offered here is an 8 x 10-inch sepia-toned photograph of the two stars and namesakes of the fabled 1927 Barnstorming Tour – Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Both greats are pictured in their classic Barnstorming uniform with Ruth in his black “BUSTIN BABES” uniform and Gehrig in his “LARRUPIN LOU’S” duds. In this classic photo, Ruth is on the left and Gehrig on the right. Both men are holding their gloves in their right hand while simultaneously leaning on a bat. A capacity crowd (which is faded) appears in the background. There are pre-printed signatures of both greats next to their images with “Yours Truly” above both names. Each, however, have penned live signatures below the prints, with Ruth in blue pen and Gehrig in purple. The back of this photograph has stamped “Home Run Tour BABE RUTH and LOU GEHRIG CHRISTY WALSH MANAGEMENT”. Given the age of this photo, it is in good to very good condition, displaying typical age, edge and corner wear. This comes with a LOA from JSA (BB98453) for Ruth and Gehrig’s signatures and have graded them an 8.

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