This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2019
Never one to disappoint a young fan or opportunistic adult for that matter, Babe Ruth autographed tens of thousands of baseballs in his lifetime. Bats autographed by the The Bambino, on the other hand, remain a rare treat for collectors. Not only was it uncommon for players to sign bats in those days, a dearth of permanent markers in the pre-war era made preservation a daunting task on such wooden subjects. Presented here is a stunning specimen displaying, by PSA/DNA’s standards, the cleanest and boldest Ruth autograph ever penned on a bat, in this case a 35-inch Hillerich & Bradsby Babe Ruth signature model retail bat. Perfectly positioned on the barrel in black fountain pen ink, with the lengthy inscription “With best wishes From Babe Ruth,” the autograph received a 9/10 grade from PSA/DNA – the highest mark ever achieved for a Ruth signed bat.
The bat was originally gifted by Ruth’s widow Claire to Cy Jones, one of the earliest pioneers in baseball collecting. A note from Claire referencing the gift of this bat along with other pieces of from Babe’s collection is included with the original mailing envelope from 1951. Jones’ collection was extensively documented in the August 6, 1942 edition of The Sporting News, noting the display of its many Hall of Fame worthy pieces at prominent New York retailers as well as the Polo Grounds for the Navy Relief Society’s All-Sports Carnival. Over 75 years later this bat stands as the finest Ruth signed piece of lumber ever to surface. The fact that Babe did not personalize the inscription makes it ideal for anyone's esteemed collection. Includes LOAs from PSA/DNA (MINT 9) and JSA, plus Claire Ruth’s letter of provenance.