Auction Item Details
Lot 306
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Lot Number: 306
Description: Exceptional 1924 Babe Ruth autographed professional model baseball bat. Louisville Slugger 125 model bat measures 36" long and weighs 41.8oz. The bat exhibits exceptional usage characteristics inclusive of ball marks on the left barrel area and cleat marks to both sides of the bat barrel. The back of the barrel has been signed by Ruth in black fountain pen, "To Jimmie Donahue Babe Ruth Dec. 25, 24". Signature and inscription present as grading 7/8 out of 10 with certain portions of the ink having been gone over presumably by Ruth himself as it appears that the pen was not "taking" to the finished bat surface in certain areas (possibly due to split nib on fountain pen itself) as often seen on fountain pen signed bats of this type. Jimmie Donahue was a former boxer who operated numerous eateries in the New Jersey and New York area. Donahue became a very close friend of Babe Ruth+s which lasted up until the very end of his life in 1948. As such, Ruth bestowed Donahue with numerous items from his baseball career inclusive of numerous autographed photographs, baseballs, and the offered signed game used bat which was the crown jewel of the collection. This particular bat dates to the absolute prime of Ruth+s career placing it solidly within the finest primary sourced Ruth game bats of its type. These attributes coupled with the scarcity of having been signed by Ruth himself equate to a superb opportunity for the most advanced collector to acquire an elite level Babe Ruth game used bat with unimpeachable provenance. Includes LOAs from Hunt Auctions (bat), PSA/DNA (bat, graded GU 10), JSA (autograph), and MEARS Authentication (bat, graded A10): Bat: EX, Signature: EX-MT (with note to partial period enhancement by Ruth)Estimated Price Range: ($200,000-$300,000)
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