October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
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. This 6 ¼” x 8 ¼” vintage ad flyer promoting one of the pair’s barnstorming appearances reads: “THIS THURSDAY BASEBALL BARNSTORMING BABE BUSTIN BABE’S RUTH VS. LOU LARRAPIN LOU’S GEHRIG AT CITY FIELD 3pm $1.00.” The score of the game is handwritten in pencil on the flyer with an “-8” next to Ruth and a “-5” next to Gehrig. While the “City Field” mentioned is of an unknown destination the chance to see the Babe and Lou together for a buck no matter where would have been priceless. This 87-year old flyer remains in good condition and serves as wonderful reminder of a bygone time when giants walked the earth in towns like yours.