Did Signed Ruth Baseball Once Sit on Babe's Desk?

Amid the furniture, paintings, nautical pieces and other antique items that will likely attract some well-heeled auction bidders to Cape Cod later this month is an old baseball.

MV Auctions of Massachusetts is offering what it calls an "authenticated 1930 World Series ball" in a sale scheduled for West Yarmouth July 26. This one carries some history. It contains autographs from Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, John McGraw, Gabby Street and Nick Altrock and is said to have once been the property of the Bambino.

The ball carries a strong Ruth signature on the sweet spot but was apparently coated for protection at one point and has some chipping. It is mounted on an antique ink blotter. The ball comes with a hand-written letter from a family member, explaining that it was originally used by Ruth who kept it on his desk. The ball was handed down to the consignor's grandfather.

The ball was authenticated by James Spence Authentication last fall.