It was a baseball bombshell that changed the fortunes of two franchises. As the 1919 holiday season passed, the Boston Red Sox gave the New York Yankees their greatest gift. It wasn’t free, but the value would turn out to be priceless. Now, a news photo from Babe Ruth’s sale to the Yankees in January of 1920 is on the auction block.
The 9 1/2″ x 7″ photo of Ruth includes the original caption still attached to the back and an International News stamp. It’s among the items in Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night event.
The photo is undated but was likely produced on or just after Jan. 6, 1920 when the landmark sale was announced. The action image is of Ruth as a pitcher with the Red Sox.
“Last year he broke all known home run records having banged out 29. The short right field fence at the Polo Grounds may enable the ‘King of Swat’ to even better this record,” the caption reads.
Despite holes created for storage and a missing lower left corner the photo is expected to sell for $80,000 or more. It’s one of thousands of items in the auction, which is set to close over three successive nights.
Ruth had threatened to sit out the 1920 season if the Red Sox refused to renegotiate his three-year, $27,000 contract. A Philadelphia newspaper called his demand for a $20,000 per year salary “ludicrous.”
Looking for cash, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee struck a deal with New York, selling Ruth’s rights for $100,000 paid over three years. A $350,000 loan from Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert was included in the deal. Ruth got a $20,000 bonus from the Yankees, but ultimately agreed to play under the terms of the deal he signed with Boston prior to the 1919 season.
He got off to a slow start in 1920 but found his stride in May and his power hitting prowess drew fans home and away. The Yankees drew 1.2 million fans to the Polo Grounds despite a third place finish as Ruth walloped 54 homers. By 1922, Ruppert had announced plans for 58,000 seat Yankee Stadium–“The House That Ruth Built,” which was completed the following year.
While the Red Sox wouldn’t win another pennant until 2004, the Yankees would capture four World Series titles and Ruth would be one of the greatest drawing cards in history.
Bidding for the photo runs through Aug. 24.
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Notes: 1920s Yankees Photos; Royals Player Trades for 1/1 Card of Himself, New SE Show; Modern Card Auction Action
