American baseball player George Herman Ruth (1895 – 1948) known as ‘Babe’ Ruth. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)
Another special piece of Babe Ruth memorabilia sold for seven figures at auction.
Per ESPN’s Dan Hajducky, a game-worn Ruth baseball glove sold at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on Saturday for $1.53 million. Hajducky noted that this is set a new record for the priciest baseball glove sold:
“The previous record is believed to be $387,500 for a Lou Gehrig glove sold with Sotheby’s in 1999. In 2013, a Jackie Robinson glove believed to have been used in both the 1955 and 1956 World Series sold for just over $373,000 by Steiner Sports.
“The Ruth glove was manufactured by Spalding for Ruth’s use circa 1927-1933. An audio recording from 1964, used in “The Glory of Their Times,” captures Austin discussing the glove and pounding its leather with his hand.”
Back in 2019, a near-century-old jersey worn by Ruth sold at auction for $5.64 million. In 2017, two Ruth-related memorabilia items also fetched seven figures: A 1927 World Series championship ring for just over $2.093 million and a sale document (when the Boston Red Sox sold him to the rival New York Yankees) for approx. $3.303 million.
Often regarded as the greatest baseball player ever, Ruth played for the Red Sox from 1914 to 1919 and then with the Yankees from 1920 to 1934. He spent one season with the Boston Braves in 1935, his last as a pro.
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Ruth led the Red Sox to World Series championships in 1915, 1916 and 1918. But after owner Harold Frazee sold Ruth to the Pinstripes, the baseball world changed forever. The Red Sox wouldn’t win another World Series until 2004, while Ruth turned the Yankees into America’s most storied sports franchise.
The Yankees had never won a World Series prior to the purchase of Ruth’s rights. But he led the organization to dynasty status in the ’20s decade, helping the Yankees to World Series championships in 1923, 1927 and 1928. He won his seventh ring with the organization in the 1932 season.
Ruth passed away at the age of 53 in 1948 from a rare cancer called Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
The 12-time American League home run leader and 1923 AL MVP retired as the all-time home runs leader (714). Hank Aaron, of course, would break the record on Apr. 8, 1974. Barry Bonds would break the record in the 2007 season, retiring with 762 for his career.
