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 and most celebrated athlete of all time. The prototype of the modern superstar, Ruth’s Herculean ability and unparalleled feats on the diamond were equaled only by his enormous charisma and gargantuan appetite for life off it.
As our National Pastime was rocked by the revelation of the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal, it was the Babe’s slugging exploits that lifted baseball from its ugly depths and restored it to glory. Ruth became the first player to hit 30, 40, 50 and 60 home runs in a single big-league season, as well as the first to top the 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 milestones. His slugging style forever changed the way baseball was played. Hailed as the savior of the game, he became an international icon as he powered his way through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. As Ruth biographer Robert Creamer asserted, "He practically invented the home run.”
Babe Ruth is also credited with the invention of the modern baseball bat. He was the first player to order a bat with a knob on the end of the handle. Hillerich & Bradsby produced this revolutionary style bat, which he used in 1919 to set a then-MLB record 29 homers in his final season with the Red Sox. In 1920, after his controversial sale to the Yankees, the Bambino batted .376 and outhomered every MLB team but one with 54—singlehandedly putting an end to the Dead Ball Era. He followed that up with 59 blasts and an even better .378 average in 1921, again leading the majors in nearly every offensive category.
This featured Babe Ruth game used Louisville Slugger 125 professional model bat dates to 1920-22, based on its physical traits and H&B factory records, when Babe first donned the famous pinstripes and enjoyed his meteoric rise to Americana fame. Measuring a Ruthian 35 ¾” in length and weighing nearly 44 ounces, the uncracked bat shows outstanding evidence of use, including: significant grain swelling; numerous ball marks on the left barrel above his engraved name; and evidence of cleat marks on the left and back barrel. Lathe marks appear at both ends, and the burned-in engravings remain strong and legible. A slight restoration has been done on the knob to repair a tiny chip. Made of the finest quality ash, the bat retains its rich mahogany color reminiscent of the golden years of baseball when Ruth first staked his claim to the throne as the Home Run King—and now king of the hobby.
Renowned bat expert John Taube of PSA/DNA has given this historic club his blessing with a GU 8.5 grade. It was previously graded 9.5 by MEARS. Original paperwork from both authenticators is included. (Note: the aforementioned restoration was done after Taube's LOA in 2017, but he has just re-examined and will honor the original grade.)