1921-31 George Babe Ruth Hillerich & Bradsby Game Used Bat (MEARS A-6)

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2016

Is there anything more awe-inspiring than a game used Babe Ruth bat? Besides the sheer scarceness of a Ruth gamer, just handling one of the bats used by the Babe is enough to make one’s head spin. This particular Ruth bat dates from the ten-year period of 1921 to 1931 when Babe Ruth emerged as the greatest baseball player in the land. In that time period Ruth single-handedly supported the printers that produced baseball record book because every season he seemed to break one offensive record after another. Ruth’s plate appearances seemed almost effortless. According to him, all he did was go up to bat looking to make contact. Fastball, slider, curve, screwball - he didn’t worry what a pitcher was throwing him, he just hit it. So, if one tried to think of one artifact that best exemplifies Babe Ruth, it would have to be one of his bats, the tool that made him famous. That this one dates to Ruth’s greatest seasons only makes it more desirable. The bat’s 35” length matches what the Babe used throughout the 1920’s when every home run he hit was the new career record. The stick weighs in at 29.7 ounces which is on the lighter end of the bats Ruth typically favored during this period. According to the bat experts at MEARS, most Ruth bats in the hobby fall in the 36 to 51 ounce range. MEARS states that a weight loss may have occurred after the bat was shipped to Ruth “but this bat falls on the lighter range of Ruth professional model bats that have entered the hobby”. The bat exhibits heavy game use. The handle has a small crack but has been repaired as has a small hole found just above the center brand. There is dead wood in the area above the center brand and cleat marks can be seen here and below the barrel stamping. As you would expect from a bat swung by the greatest slugger to have played the game, the barrel shows ball marks from some of Ruth’s mighty wallops. There is some staining found on the barrel end and a small square stain is located between the right side of the factory oval and Ruth’s stamped signature. An incredible piece of baseball’s storied past, dating from a time where Babe Ruth was the most recognized man in the nation and every home run he hit necessitated a correction in the record books. Letter of Authenticity from MEARS who have graded this bat an A-6.