This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/1/2021
The term “Holy Grail” is often tossed about within the memorabilia business. While many items that come to the market are rare and valuable, only a select few relics possess the mystic to live up to such a label. We are proud to present one of the true “Holy Grails” of sports: a Babe Ruth game used Hillerich & Bradsby baseball bat. Any Babe Ruth game used is highly coveted.
This is a Babe Ruth game used bat fully authenticated by Mears with a grade of A7 (A8 -1 point for a repaired handle crack). This bat is from 1922-1924 where ordering records from H&B were incomplete or non-existent. The bat is 35" and weighs 35oz. This is exactly in line to what Ruth would have ordered. In fact, in an interview he said he used 35" bats for the last 12-13 years of his career. It's a beautiful bat and as with Ruth bats the left side of the barrel is just absolutely hammered with use. Typically a left-hander would use the right side of the barrel batting with the label facing them but Ruth did the opposite and batted with the label down, hence his unique wear is another testament to this bat being a Bambino gamer.
With a Babe Ruth bat standing as one of the few pieces of sports memorabilia to date to cross the million-dollar threshold at auction, it is stands as one of the prestigious acquisitions for any collector. While the pleasure of owning a Ruth gamer is surely its own reward, one can't overlook the investment potential here. Few collectibles in any genre have seen the sharp and steady upward value surge of Ruth game used material, and there's no sign that this will change any time soon. This sculpted wood represents one of the most desirable artifacts in the sports collecting hobby. The ownership of a Babe Ruth game used bat sets the elite collector apart from the masses, and makes him curator of a piece of true Americana. Accompanied by a detailed Letter of Authenticity from game used memorabilia authority Troy Kinunen/MEARS Authentication.