Auction Item Details
Lot 2
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Lot 2
Description: Babe Ruth autographed baseball with provenance attributed to 6/8/1930 "$80,000 Why Not? I had a Better Year" contract - JSA (VG/EX). Toned and clear coated "Boys Practice" baseball signed across the sweet spot by Babe Ruth in blue fountain pen. Signature presents well and ranges from 3/4-7 out of 10 ("Ruth" bolder). The ball also is also signed by other New York Yankees including Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri, but those signatures are very faded and barely visible. Accompanying the baseball are two 1980s era photos picturing images from 6/8/1930 (one picturing Babe Ruth stepping off of a bus in uniform and the other in street clothes signing the offered baseball for a young girl). The girl can be seen in both images with the back of the images inscribed by her sister in 1987 detailing the date of the signing as being 6/8/1930. On that very date, Ruth famously signed a two year contract for a record $160,000 and when asked about him being paid more than President Hoover he remarked, "Why Not? I had a Better Year." The street clothes image matches the period video of Ruth wearing the identical garb and shoes when signing the agreement with Jacob Ruppert. Includes full LOA from JSA and both photos signed on the back by the sister of the original recipient: VG/EX ($5,000-$7,500)Current EST: 10/29/26 5:22:20 PM