Spring Premier Auction 2013

Babe Ruth was the ultimate hero of a sport with more than its fair share of heroes - a giant of monumental swagger and breathtaking talent who set the standard by which all others would be judged. His position atop baseball in general is rightly proportionate with his position in the field of baseball collectibles. In the latter field, no object is a greater embodiment of his persona than a single signed baseball. It is without reservation that we present the offered example as the finest single signed Ruth ball we’ve seen in our 30-plus year business history. Hailing from the 1940’s, this ONL (Frick) ball appears unused, with perfect manufacturer’s stampings. Ruth’s blue-ink, sweet spot signature is large, vibrant, perfectly formed and perfectly placed. The overall aesthetics of the autograph contrasting with the snow-white surface of the ball are simply majestic. The ball comes with its original Spalding bag that is largely responsible for its remarkable state of preservation. A recent technical analysis of the ball conducted by PSA/DNA produced a condition assessment as follows: Autograph Grade: 9, Ball Grade: 7, plus a half point (.5) addition for eye appeal for a composite grade of 8.5. In spite of the aforementioned technical grades, we invite comparison of this ball to the few known examples graded higher, including the 9.5 example that recently sold for over $388,000. A Babe Ruth signed ball of this caliber is a transcendent object. Its appeal reaches beyond the circles of sports memorabilia enthusiasts, earning iconic recognition in the larger realm of Americana.

Includes a full LOA from PSA/DNA (Composite Grade: 8.5).