2017 October Legends Closing November 11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/12/2017
The expert collector looks for the inimitable, distinct memento. This is it. Long before clubhouses had booming speakers and chrome whirlpools, they had plain lockers for the players. Individually etched medallions identified the locker of each player. Even greats like Babe Ruth needed their lockers distinguished. This medallion was the identifier, distinguishing Ruth from Meusel, Pennock, Shocker, Gehrig, and the rest of his teammates. When the Yankees became the first team to regularly wear uniforms with numbers in 1929, the locker medallion also received the corresponding number. This bronze medallion, approximately two-inches in diameter, hung from the Babe’s home locker in the venerated “House That Ruth Built”. On the front is engraved “Babe Ruth 3.” On the back is engraved “Yankee Stadium Locker 3 / The Bronx, New York.” This tag was used between 1929 and 1934. In addition to the ones actually used at the stadium, additional copies were produced at the time and given out. The medallion is in excellent condition with engravings and faces minimally tarnished from age.