Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
Of all the New York Yankees seasons in their storied history, where they have won 28 World Championships, a few seasons really conjure up thoughts of supreme greatness. The 1927 Yankee team saw Babe Ruth slug 60 home runs, and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four straight. IN 1951, it was the passing of the torch form Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle. And in 1961, it was Roger Maris' assault competition with Mickey Mantle on Babe Ruth's single-season home run record the primary reason behind the magical aura surrounding that World Championship season. The Bronx Bombers won 109 games that year, set a then-Major League team record with 240 home runs; Whitey Ford led the Majors with 25 wins and running his World Series scoreless streak to 32 innings, broke Babe Ruth’s record of consecutive shutout innings in the World Series.
Offered here is an exceptional memento from that Yankees' season for the ages. This 14K gold 1961 Yankees Championship ring was used as a salesman's sample by the venerated "Balfour" jewelry company. The size "9-1/2" ring features extensive laurel leaf designs, with the Yankees' top hat logo and the year "1961" displayed on both shanks. The top of the ring delivers a CZ stone set within a baseball diamond, which is in turn surrounded by the perimeter engraving, "NEW YORK YANKEES WORLD CHAMPIONS." Inside the band is engraved the name “Roger Maris” the key to that great World Championship season. This ring remains in superb condition, showing light overall wear from normal use, and is from an historic Yankee season on many levels. LOA from noted Sports Ring expert Scott Welkowsky.