This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/15/2008
Babe Ruth was the ultimate hero of a sport with more than its fair share of heroes- a giant of monumental swagger and breathtaking talent who set the standard by which all others would be judged. Sportswriters competed to glorify his name. He was "The Sultan of Swat," "The Colossus of Clout," "The Behemoth of Bust," "The Bambino," and the "Slambino." To find his like, writers reached back into myth. Grantland Rice called his achievement "Homeric, no pun intended." Paul Gallico pronounced him "an American Porthos, a swashbuckler built on gigantic and heroic lines." His position atop baseball in general is rightly proportionate with his position in the field of baseball collectibles. In the latter field, no object is a greater embodiment of his persona than a bat he personally used, the ultimate tool of his trade. The offered example is a superior specimen, dated according to factory records to 1932, a season that brought Ruth his seventh World Championship (fourth with the Yankees) and the baseball history books a piece of its greatest lore, the infamous "Called Shot". Manufactured by Hillerich & Bradsby, the distinctive white hickory model 125 Babe Ruth professional model bat is uncracked and shows evidence of excellent use. Several ball marks are visible on the left barrel. This area of the bat also shows other indications of wear as do the back barrel, right barrel and handle. All barrel brands are deeply burned and appear flawless. The white hickory finish has matured to a warm golden patina. Ruth's factory ordering record indicated the Babe ordered 12 hickory bats of this kind in 1932, two of which were for the World Series. The model is referred to as "his 4-26-28". Measuring 34.75 inches in length and weighing 35.8 ounces, this example possesses ideal usage characteristics and display quality. As such, it has earned high praise from the industry's foremost third party bat authenticators. LOAs from John Taube of PSA/DNA (Graded GU8) and MEARS (Graded A8).
80,000 USD - 120,000 USD