In the late 1920's, before the days of winter league baseball in South America, major league players did a number of things to earn extra money in the off season. Even the great Babe Ruth was no exception. Ruth, his sidekick Lou Gehrig and a number of other professional stars barnstormed the country and northern California in October, 1927 after Babe has set an American League record that summer - 60 homers in one season.
Earl "Duke" Perry " was an outstanding baseball player for then Santa Clara college. Perry was an all-star first baseman but as he moved up through the various minor leagues after college, he was played at shortstop and third base more often. "I had an arm that was too good to waste, at least that's what they told me. There was a rumor in 1918 that I was going to be traded to Philadelphia, but that's all it was, so I joined the Navy" said Perry. After leaving the Navy, Perry once again returned to semi-pro baseball, playing for the San Jose Merchants during that teams heyday.
A game was set at Sodality park in Santa Clara California, with Ruth and Gehrig each captaining a team, the "Bustin' Babes" and the Larrupin' Lous". The Babe's fee for playing these games was $1,300, a high price in those days, but most of the fans paid to see "the Babe hit one out of the park."
However, as the game entered the 9th inning, the immortal Babe Ruth had been held to just two singles while being put out three times at bat. The Duke was playing shortstop for the "Lous," and volunteered to pitch the 9th inning in the hope of serving the Sultan of Swat a home run pitch. "I knew the fans were growling for Ruth to sock one," recalled Perry. "They had paid $1.50 admission, a lot of money in those days. I motioned to Ruth to indicate where he wanted the pitch. He said 'Anywhere around the plate.' "I threw the first pitch for a called strike on the outside corner. The second pitch was low and inside, a kind of a golf shot. But he really connected."
Before Ruth even finished rounding the bases, the crowd had broken onto the field and were mobbing the Babe, asking for autographs, and the game broke up before "The Bambino" had completed his round-tripper and the Bustin Babes won 15-3.
Offered in this lot is Earl "Duke" Perry's baseball from that barnstorming game October 26th, 1927, a ball signed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and himself. The Official Victor League baseball has toned to a light brown over the years with some light, consistent scuffing. Each of the signatures is easily identifiable, Ruth occupying the traditional sweet spot position, Gehrig to the panel west of Ruth and Perry's signature on the panel south of Ruth's signature. Perry has dated the the baseball from the day of the game October 26th, 1927 just a few short weeks after the 1927 World Series had ended.
The Babe Ruth signature on the sweet spot is about a 5-6/10 while the Lou Gehrig is 5/10.
Full LOA from PSA/DNA and includes original newspaper article.