Auction Item Details
Lot 128
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Lot Number: 128
Description: Historically Important October 15, 1923 Babe Ruth Autographed and Inscribed Baseball Attributed to World Series Championship Clinching Game #6. The 1921 American League season was perhaps the finest of Babe Ruth's storied career. His statistics read as though fictitious with .378 batting average, 59 home runs, and 177 RBIs. Led by Ruth, the Yankees captured the American League pennant and had strong hope to win their first World Championship as they met the New York Giants in the World Series. The Yankees...and Babe Ruth, fought valiantly but were defeated by the Giants. In 1922, the results were similar with the Yankees falling once again to their cross town rivals. However, after a stellar performance in the 1921 contest Babe Ruth was held to a lowly batting average of .118 in the five game Series for 1922. 1923 would be different. The team opened their grand new "Yankee Stadium" on April 18, 1923 to great fanfare including, of course, being christened with a Ruthian home run. The Bronx Bombers would once again win the AL pennant and were set to face the New York Giants in the World Series for the third straight season. However, for this third installment of the Series rivalry the games would now be played alternately at each team's respective stadium versus only at the Polo Grounds as in the case of the previous two. The first four games saw each club win alternately but in the fifth game the Yankees pounded the Giants by a score of 8 to 1 leaving them just one victory away from their first World Championship. Game #6 would shift from Yankee Stadium back to the Polo Grounds with great anticipation before a raucous crown of 34,172 fans. The tone was set early by none other than Babe Ruth. In the first inning, against two outs, with a count of 3-2 against Giants' pitcher Art Nehf...Ruth sent a screaming line drive into the right field stands to give the Yankees a lead of 1-0. It was Babe's third home run of the Series. While the Giants would rally to take a 4-1 lead the Yankee roared back with five runs in the eight innings to prevail for their first World Series title. Babe Ruth had finally won a World Series and performed exceptionally with three home runs, eight runs scored, and a .368 batting average. Organically, World Series related artifacts of significance are notably rare and typically not offered to the public. Uniforms, bats, and awards are understandably treasured by players, their heirs, and institutions. Programs, tickets, and souvenir pieces are certainly of collecting interest but generally are not unique and infrequently of great value. Game used baseballs, and in particular home run baseballs, have historically been the most sought after World Series artifacts as while very rare remaining, a limited yet viable option. Offered is an Official National League baseball which is attributed to have been hit by Babe Ruth for a home run in Game #6 of the 1923 World Series. Game six was played at the Polo Grounds denoting use of NL baseballs for game play. The ball exhibits heavy use including surface soling and several "impact" markings. "Spalding No. 1" stampings along with portions of the additional "National League" and "Spalding" logo stampings remain visible with varying degrees of age wear/fading. Side panel displays a fountain pen inscription and autograph by Babe Ruth, "Home Run Ball World Series "Babe Ruth" Oct. 15, 1923". Inscription and signature range from 5-8 out of 10 remaining clearly legible with Ruth's penmanship/style appropriate to the 1923 time period. World Series milestone baseballs of this era and importance with specific first hand corroborative inscriptions are exceedingly scarce. This particular baseball has resided in the personal collection of an advanced hobbyist since 1988. While its specific origins pre-dating its 1988 acquisition have been lost to history its significance among the surviving population of historic World Series baseballs is without question. In the case of pre 1930s milestone or historic baseballs they are typically not autographed let alone inscribed with the specificity needed to make an appropriately documented attribution. The Ruth inscription on the subject 1923 World Series baseball is non ambivalent in any fashion and stunning when reflected upon. It is well documented that Ruth was a willing signer and frequently would in fact specifically inscribe items including several other documented game used bats and baseballs of note. The 1923 Babe Ruth World Series home run inscription baseball will now assume a prominent place within its category and demands serious consideration as quite possibly the finest of same to have ever surfaced. Includes LOA from Hunt Auctions (Baseball), full LOA from JSA (Autograph), and full LOA from PSA/DNA (Autograph): Ball: VG, Signature and Inscription: Range VG-EX/MTEstimated Price Range: (Estimate Upon Request)
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