The Babe Ruth Auction at Yankee Stadium just added a big piece of memorabilia–literally and figuratively.
Hunt Auctions, which is hosting the June 15 event, says it will be offering one of the Bambino’s road jerseys from the 1928-1930 era that is expected to sell for a seven-figure price.
The company says the jersey is “one of a scant handful of authentic Ruth New York Yankees professional model jerseys documented to exist and ranks among the finest known of that limited population.”
David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions, told Sports Collectors Daily that the jersey was consigned by a private collector who has held it for about 20 years. It carries the original “Yankees” team name across the front– the only instance in which their iconic nickname was printed on the uniforms. “Ruth” last is chain stitched into the collar with the original Spalding manufacturer’s tag still intact.
The jersey has been fully authenticated by SGC uniform expert Dave Grob as “Excellent/Superior.”
“The scarcity and desirability of this particular Babe Ruth jersey simply cannot be overstated. Ruth game worn jerseys are the pinnacle of collecting and investment pursuits within the marketplace with the current offering marking a generational opportunity. We fully expect demand and bidding interest befitting the greatest figure in the history of the sport,” said Hunt, who stated it’s possible the jersey may have been worn in the 1928 World Series and/or when Ruth belted his 500th home run in 1929.
In 2012, the earliest known Ruth jersey sold through SCP Auctions for over $4.4 million. Hunt Auctions believes the jersey it’ll be offering could surpass that mark. Only about a half-dozen Ruth game jerseys are known to exist including one on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Much of the memorabilia that will be offered in the Yankee Stadium sale has been consigned by his descendants. The collection has largely remained unknown to the general public and includes hundreds of pieces relating to the life and career of the most iconic player in baseball history.
Highlight Items from the collection will include cleats, a contracts, photos, trophies, autographed photos and baseballs, and his personal check ledger.
With permission of the Ruth family and additional related charitable donations, some elite-level Ruth and Yankees-related items are still being accepted for consignment. Among the additions that have been added since the auction was announced in December:
- A professional model “notched” Home Run bat c.1928-29
- “Bustin Babes” barnstorming equipment travel case c.1920s (Waite Hoyt provenance)
- 1923 New York Yankees World Championship presentational Spalding trophy
- 1923 Yankees team autographed ledger sheet
- Nearly complete run of New York Yankees team autographed baseballs from 1922-2019
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit several related charities.
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