Over his 22-year playing career, Babe Ruth slugged 714 home runs. He hit them out of 12 different ballparks in each league. 133 came in the first inning of a game. Every homer he hit after number 138 in 1921 became the new MLB career record, and when he retired in 1935 more than 200 homers separated him from the number two man on the list. Ruth led the AL in that category twelve times, including every season from 1926 through 1931. His 714 came at the expense of 216 different pitchers, with Rube Walberg being victimized the most with 17. This unique grouping collects the signatures of nine pitchers who gave up milestone home runs to The Babe.
The first in the group is an index card signed by Jack Warhop in 7/10 blue ballpoint. Warhop gave up the Babe’s first two home runs, the first on May 6, 1915, and the second a few weeks later on June 2, 1915. Next up is Herman Pillette. The Tigers pitcher gave up the Babe’s 200th home run on May 12, 1923. Pillette has signed (8/10 black ink) a cut piece of paper mounted to a 3x5 card. Also signing an index card (in 6-7/10 blue ballpoint) is Chester Ross, the Red Sox pitcher who was on the mound when Ruth clocked number 300 on September 8, 1925.Rube Walberg, the man who served up more home runs to Ruth than any other, also had the distinction of relinquishing career home run number 400 on September 2, 1927. Rube has signed a J.deBeer and Son ball in 7/10 blue pen. The ball has a light coat of shellac which has aged to a mottled golden color. Willis Hudlin, who gave up Ruth’s 500th career homer on August 11, 1929, has signed a crisp white OAL (Budig) ball in strong 9/10 blue ballpoint, inscribing the “1926-1940” duration of his career.
The next milestone would be Ruth’s 600th home run, hit on August 21, 1931, off George Blaeholder of the Browns. Blaeholder has signed a heavily toned and soiled OAL (Harridge) ball on the sweet spot in black fountain pen that has faded to around 3-4/10. An unknown hand has inscribed “St. Louis Ball Club” on a side panel. On July 13, 1934, Ruth hit home run number 700 when he knocked a Tommy Bridges ball out of Tiger Stadium. The Detroit pitcher has signed a lightly toned ONL (Giles) ball in faded black ballpoint (4-5/10) adding a personalized inscription and the date “3-29-65.” And finally, Guy Bush, who gave up home runs 713 and 714 on May 25, 1935, has twice signed an ONL (Feeney) ball, once in bold black marker (8-9/10) and again in black ballpoint (5/10) near the sweet spot. Here, in eight signed balls and cuts, we have almost the entire story of Babe’s famous record told through the men he faced. The one missing signature from this milestone home run collection would be Jim Shaw, who gave up Babe’s 100th career homer. An exceptional collection that pays tribute to the pitchers who had a part in Babe Ruth’s greatest home run milestones as he blasted his way to the magical number, 714.
Full LOA from PSA/DNA for Bridges. Full LOA from JSA for Blaeholder. Notations on east and west panels of Blaeholder are done in unknown hand, according to PSA/DNA. Auction LOA from JSA for Rube Walberg. All signatures pre-certified by PSA/DNA.