Historic baseball memorabilia was on the block in the All Star Fan Fest sale conducted by Hunt Auctions Tuesday.
A bat attributed to a home run hit by Babe Ruth in the 1923 World Series brought some deep pockets into the Moscone Center in San Francisco Tuesday. Hunt Auctions conducted its annual baseball memorabiliia auction in conjunction with the Major League All Star game.
The Ruth bat drew a high bid of $280,000. The addition of a 15% buyer’s premium, the realized price was $322,000. It’s believed the bat was used by Ruth in Game 6 of the ’23 Series, possibly the one used by the Babe to hit a decisive homer. Game 6 would prove to be the series clincher as New York Giants pitcher Art Nehf collapsed in the eighth inning, allowing the Yankees to claim the World Championship title for the very first time in franchise history. Ruth signed and inscribed the bat, " To My Friend Art Nehf From "Babe" Ruth Oct. 15th, 1923".
The lineup cards from the first All Star game in 1933, consigned by the family of coach Bill McKechnie, sold for $138,000 including the "juice".
A 1913 Boston Garter Ty Cobb card nearly reached six figures, with the winning bidder responsible for a $97,750 selling price while SCP Auctions purchased a 1960 Ted Williams game-used bat for $26,450.
Other highlights of the auction:
- 1923-26 Ty Cobb Louisville Slugger bat $69,000
- 1955 Ted Williams road jersey $51,750
- Lou Gehrig single-signed baseball $50,600
- 1903 World Series panoramic photo $37,950
- Carl Hubbell’s Hall of Fame induction ring $36,800
- 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie card graded SGC 84 $31,050
- 1958 Willie Mays home jersey $29,900
