ADDENDUM: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HEADING FOR THIS LOT HAS CHANGED. ACCORDING TO JOHN TAUBE OF PSA/DNA THE LABELING PERIOD FOR THIS BAT IS 1927-28, NOT 1924-1928 AS LISTED IN THE CATALOGUE. SINCE THE R34 MODEL IS 'his 5-14-27' THE TRUE LABELING PERIOD IS 1927/28..Babe Ruth played baseball like he lived life: with loud, gaudy, entertaining gusto. There was nothing subtle about the happy-go-lucky Sultan of Swat, who paraded through his career, forged an enduring relationship with adoring fans and then withstood the test of time as the greatest power hitter in baseball history. Ruth's legendary home run totals - 714 in his career, 60 in 1927-are no longer records, but they still stand as milestone numbers by which all power hitters are judged. His legendary carousing still enhances the irascible image that colors his aura. More than anything, the magnetic Ruth is hailed as the savior of the game, the man who ushered in the longball era and revitalized baseball when it was mired in the bog of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Ruth became a New York icon as he powered his way through the Roaring '20s and the Great Depression, posting shocking homer totals of 59 (1921), 60 (1927) and 54 (1928) while leading the Yankees to four World Series championships and anchoring one of the most devastating lineups in history. Lost in the fog of Ruth's 12 American League home run titles, 13 slugging championships, four 50-homer seasons, and six RBI titles was a career .342 average that still ranks 10th all time.
No single sports memorabilia item consistently inspires more awe than a bat used by Babe Ruth. For veteran hobbyists or casual fans, the allure of a bat wielded by Ruth in his prime, the ultimate tool of his trade, is unfailing. For many reasons this example is among the finest of known Ruth gamers. The first is that it dates to the ca. 1927 period during which Ruth was at the peak of his slugging prominence. The second is the combination of ideal usage traits and a breathtaking state of preservation. Lastly, is the ironclad provenance provided by the H&B “R34” factory vault mark it bears on the knob. This R34 vault mark identifies this as the model bat ordered exclusively by Ruth from May 14th, 1927 thru March 8th, 1930. It was the model used by the Babe in 1927 to establish what was then the single season home run record of 60 home runs. Babe Ruth's Professional Bat Ordering Record (PBOR) from Louisville Slugger Inc. documents that the R34 vault mark was applied to this bat on May 81h, 1930. This is also the date the bat was returned to the factory by Ruth. It was common practice from the teens to the mid 1940's for players to return their bats to the factory so that more of the same model could be shipped to them. Upon receipt, most bats were inscribed with the return date, the bat's length and weight, player name and team affiliation. In this case, the bat is not
sidewritten, but vault marked. Knowing that the vault mark was applied to this bat on May 8th, 1930, we know Ruth used it between 1927 and 1930. The 35 inch, 38 ounce war club shows evidence of outstanding use with a small handle crack. The left barrel shows evidence of ball contact and bears several cleat marks as well. Setting aside the bat’s desirable technical attributes, its aesthetic quality is extraordinary. The ash wood grain, rich amber coloration and fine patina are marvelous. Deeply rendered factory centerbrand and barrel markings complete a perfect package of every desired attribute sought by fastidious bat collectors. This magnificent artifact is an elite class of surviving bats wielded by the “Sultan of Swat” and would be a cornerstone in the finest baseball memorabilia collection in the world.
Includes a LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA (Graded GU10).