An early 1920s Babe Ruth bat that was purchased at auction and then photo matched to him swinging it has sold for a record price of $1,850,000, according to Hunt Auctions, which brokered the private treaty sale.
The gigantic Louisville Slugger stick that was once on display at New York’s Polo Grounds is now the most expensive piece of baseball lumber ever sold.
The $1.85 million price paid by a private collector surpassed the $1.68 million paid for another Ruth model bat sold at auction last year.
In February 2018, the bat was purchased at auction by longtime collector Justin Cornett, who paid just over $400,000. The Texas resident then went searching for help in finding a photo of Ruth using it, which would substantially increase its value.
After looking at more than 200 Ruth images from the time period PSA/DNA photo expert Henry Yee found one well known photo that showed the bat Cornett had purchased. The shot had been taken during a game at the Polo Grounds between 1920 and ’22.
The bat Cornett owned matched five key points of the bat in the International News Service photograph: Four V-shaped “witches’ peaks” that extend down the bat’s center brand, and one grain pattern by the bat handle.
The photo of Ruth used in the authentication process is the only photographic corroboration to Ruth using a bat in a major league game. 
As referenced within the PSA/DNA authentication paperwork, the classic Ruth R2 model number, 36-inch length, and massive 44.6 ounce weight specifications were confirmed by the Hillerich & Bradbsy Co. manufacturer’s ordering records as consistent with Ruth’s bats between 1920 and 1921.
The 1921 season was arguably the greatest of Ruth’s career in which he established a new home run record of 59 and also eclipsed the previous career number of 139 home runs. Based on its provenance, specific Ruth characteristic use traits, and photo match to the 1921 season the bat was assigned a perfect grade of GU 10 by PSA/DNA.
The original recipient’s family history noted the Ruth bat as having been displayed alongside several other star player game used bats including Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby in the early 1940s at the Polo Grounds which were auctioned for charity. It was originally purchased by a man who gave it to a teenage employee who had admired it all summer. That person sold it to John Taube decades later.
“I am very familiar with the “Polo Grounds” Babe Ruth bat, bringing it into the hobby 30 years ago.” Taube recalled. “I remember vividly the excitement that surrounded the day it was being hand delivered to my home by the original owner. When I first picked the bat up like all collectors, I was amazed at the 44 plus ounce weight of the bat, wondering how Ruth could swing it. The rich brown patina and the Ruth characteristics that were present, then and now establish the bat as one of the premier Babe Ruth game used bats in any collection, public or private.”
The record price for any piece of baseball memorabilia was set by a Ruth road jersey dating to the 1928-1930 time frame that sold for $5.64 million in a Hunt Auctions sale of Ruth memorabilia at Yankee Stadium in 2019.
“It is without surprise, that the Babe has once again pushed yet another sports memorabilia category to record pricing territory,” stated company president David Hunt following the most recent record sale. “This baseball bat is as close to work of art as the medium can allow.”
Related Stories:
Joe Garagiola’s T206 Honus Wagner Card Up for Auction
Collector Matches Babe Ruth Bat To Famous 1921 Photo
Ruth Bat, Photo Top All-Star Auction in Cleveland
Gehrig Memorabilia, 1924 Ruth Bat Headline Heritage Auction
Bats From All 27 Members of 500 Home Run Club Coming to Mile High Auction
Collector Matches Ty Cobb Bat To Iconic 1913 Photograph
HOF Stands Pat but Heritage Selling Bat Attributed to Ruth’s 60th Home Run
Topps Exhibit Helps Slugger Museum to Record Attendance
