This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/10/2021
The cornerstone of any baseball autograph collection is the Babe Ruth signed ball. Over the course of his career and life, The Babe signed many baseballs, and whether solo or shared with teammates, a Ruth ball has always been something to behold. The Babe understood early on that it was the fans who made him the superstar that he had become and believed that signing autographs was his duty to them. Because of the demand for his signature, Ruth developed a beautiful, flowing mark that has become as iconic as his broad, smiling face. Over the years Ruth signed whatever fans thrust towards him – scorecards, restaurant menus, bats, photos – but nowhere does his signature look more natural than on a baseball.
As the game’s biggest star, Ruth habitually signed the sweet spot of a ball. When other players were asked to sign a ball, they reverently left that spot open for Ruth, as did managers, who traditionally made their mark in that spot on a team ball. Unlike lesser players who signed a ball hesitantly and unsure of where to start and end, The Babe was able to confidently apply his signature almost dead center on a ball’s sweet spot in a seemingly perfect symmetrical fashion. A perfect example of Ruth’s precision signing ability is this early 1930s single signed beauty.
The ball was obtained in the early 1930s by William Hoffman who proudly passed this artifact on through subsequent generations of the Hoffman/Davis family. Their particular reverence for this family heirloom is documented by the stunning condition it has been preserved in over the past 90 years. Signed in strong blue fountain pen, Ruth’s signature leaps off the warm cream-colored leather of the ball. The sphere itself is the special Spalding “Babe Ruth Home Run Special” model, highlighted by the colorful red and blue stitching. Ideally, the ball’s original stamping and graphics remain strong, complimenting Ruth’s bold signature. The ball’s surface shows light wear with even toning that gives the ball a warm patina. The original, partial Spalding box is also included with the ball, giving this piece its own, unique display cradle.
The ball comes with a LOA from Beckett and JSA and a signed letter of provenance from the Davis Family from which this ball derives from.
ESTIMATE: $30,000+