This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/23/2015
When it comes to the long ball, two iconic baseball players resonate with fans and collectors everywhere: Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Ruth, a New York Yankees legend, belted his final, 714th home run during his last season in 1935 (with the Boston Braves) and held Major League Baseball’s hallowed career home run mark for more nearly 40 years. Aaron, the longtime Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves’ superstar, was the man who broke it when he launched career round-tripper No. 715 on April 8, 1974, during a home game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium against the L.A. Dodgers. Aaron would finish his career with a 10-home run campaign in 1976 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Between the two undisputed MLB home run leaders, they clubbed a combined 1,469 homers.
This lot features a dual-signed Official National League (Frick) baseball that sports both of their signatures in blue ink with Ruth’s adorning the sweet spot. The baseball was initially signed by Ruth in or around 1938 following batting practice before a spring training game in Lakeland, Florida. At the time Ruth was serving as a coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers and would routinely take batting practice before games in order to attract more fans to the ballpark. One of the batting practice home run balls from that day was retrieved by a gentleman who then passed it to Ruth for his signature. The baseball was then shared with the man’s nephew years later who years later had it signed by Aaron after “Hammerin’ Hank” surpassed the Babe’s home run total. Both signatures remain solid today and would rate 8-9/10 in our book.
Full LOA from PSA/DNA.