Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
The single-signed Babe Ruth baseball is often referred to as the ultimate piece of baseball memorabilia. Once a collector obtains one, it automatically becomes the cornerstone of his collection and the exemplar against which every other acquisition is gauged. Now a signed Babe Ruth BAT? - that is the item that pushes the envelope and opens the door to a whole new level of memorabilia collecting. Autographed Ruth bats are far rarer then autographed Ruth baseballs. Compare the price of a Mantle bat to a Mantle ball, for example. It seems to us that single signed Ruth bats may be one of the most undervalued collectibles in the hobby, and certainly one of the rarest. This circa 1930's store model Babe Ruth bat has been flawlessly signed by the slugger right between his stamped endorsement and the Hillerich & Bradsby center brand.
Since these bats were made for kids and adults to use, most existing Babe Ruth store model bats are found in deplorable condition - broken, discolored and dinged beyond recognition. Who could pass up the opportunity to use a Babe Ruth model bat when playing ball? Baseball memorabilia collecting, let alone signed bat collecting, was unheard of during The Babe's lifetime thus making any signed Ruth bat a truly rare piece. As was intended, the 36" 40BR model bat shows some use, with various nicks and dents visible on the barrel. Luckily, none of this intrudes on The Babe's signature. Since the factory finish was glossy, the original owner thoughtfully sanded a 1" x 4" area upon which Ruth added his famous signature in black fountain pen. While the sanded area was once much lighter, time has aged the wood so it almost blends in with the rest of the bat's warm color. Visually, it makes an impressive presentation that one needs to see in person to fully appreciate. When the time comes to push your collection to a higher level, this is the bat that will do it. Full Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA who have graded this exquisite Ruth signature a near-perfect 9.