On August 16th, 1948, the greatest baseball player of all-time died at the age of 53. Babe Ruth had dominated baseball for over 20 seasons, both as a pitcher and a hitter. With a then-record of 714 home runs, the Sultan of Swat was America’s first great sporting hero. His death from cancer shook the United States, and countless thousands of people stood vigil outside his funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.

     This edition of The Newark Star-Ledger is from Tuesday, August 17, 1948, the day after Ruth’s passing. A giant headline across the top reads, “MR. BASEBALL IS DEAD.” This sports page features articles by Star Ledger columnists Frank Casale and J.G. Taylor Spink Award-winner Joe Reichler. A fitting tribute to the Great Bambino, this newspaper measures 17 x 24 inches. It is slightly colored from age but presents excellently. A black-and-white photograph of an elderly Ruth dressed in a coat and cap is the centerpiece of the front page of this sports section. Goldin Auctions will be donating 5% of the winning bid price of this lot and all lots in this auction to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum.

Auction Notepad