A photo of four baseball icons, two of whom were making their last Opening Day appearance, leads off RMY Auctions’ September online event.
The original International News photo shows Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker posing prior to the Yankees-A’s game at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, April 11, 1928. A full paper caption remains attached to the back.
It’s the only known photo of the four dynamic hitters posing together in a sort of melding between the deadball era and the modern power game. Ruth was in his prime and would belt 54 homers that season. The Babe and Lou Gehrig would also lead the American League in RBI with 142.
Cobb, at 41, was still feared. He hit .323 that season, teaming with Speaker for one final year. The ‘Grey Eagle’ batted .267 in 1928, his first season below .300 since 1908. Immediately after the season, Speaker turned his attention to managing.
The Yankees beat the A’s on that chilly April day, with all four men in the starting lineup. They would hold off Philadelphia to win the American League pennant. The A’s finished 2.5 games back.
The 6×8 photo is one of 485 original images from sports, news and entertainment in RMY’s September auction, which runs through Saturday, October 1.
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