Auction Item Details
Lot 152
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Lot Number: 152
Description: Superb Babe Ruth autographed baseball attributed to his 37th Home Run of the 1931 season and 602nd Career Home Run (Direct Provenance). Babe Ruth led the Yankees into Comiskey Park in late August with the uncommon position of looking up in the standings at their American League rivals the Philadelphia Athletics. The Yankees would finish the campaign with a record of 94-59…which was 13 1/2 games behind the powerful Athletics club. Although the Yankees were not to win the title in 1931 Babe Ruth continued to dominate offensively leading the league in home runs (46) and RBIs (128) with a .373 batting average. The Yankees were facing the Chicago White Sox in a game played at Comiskey Park on August 24, 1931. Ruth was at the plate in the first inning facing pitcher Tommy Thomas when he promptly deposited his 37th home run of the season into the bleachers. The clout also marked Ruth's 602nd home run of his career. Ruth would finish the day going four for four with two singles, double, and the aforementioned round tripper leading the Yankees to their season high sixth straight victory. Joseph "Big Joe" Pospichel was a policeman in Gary, Indiana who was in attendance of the game on that late August afternoon along with his 15 year old son. Both teams were out of the AL pennant race and the crowd was notably sparse for the game. Once Joe's son watched the baseball off of Ruth's bat headed his way in the right field stands he entered the scrum with other fans. As a member of his school basketball team and Golden Glove boxer the young man fared well and emerged with the offered baseball. After the game, the elder Pospichel Joe utilized a contact as an acquaintance with the guard outside the Yankees clubhouse door. Father and sone were able to secure Babe Ruth's autograph on the ball along with teammates Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri. Ruth signature appropriately occupies the sweet spot rating 8 out of 10. Gehrig on side panel presents as 6/7 out of 10 with Lazzeri on opposite panel at 5 out of 10. The ball is inscribed on the panel above the Ruth signature, "37th Homer of Season of '31" in period black fountain pen likely by Pospichel himself. Clear and evident use is visible to the official American League baseball with side panel William Harridge President stamping (1931-34 period) including soiling and several notable impact markings. Documented Ruth home run baseballs are among the most sought after of any baseball memorabilia item for good reason. No player before of after the Babe enjoys the lore generated by his majestic home runs which single handedly transformed the game of baseball. The offered example has been retained by the family of the original recipient and is being presented at market for the first time publicly. Outstanding and significant Ruth related artifact with succinct primary source provenance. Includes full LOA from JSA (autographs), various newspaper article copies related to Joseph Pospichel, copy of period image showing officer Pospichel in uniform, and letter of provenance from the Pospichel family: Ball :VG-EX, Signatures: Range VG/EX-NMEstimated Price Range: ($50,000-$100,000)
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