LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Sig. Sports Collectibles II #708  / 

19673

1921-22 Babe Ruth Side Written Game Used Bat

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Game Used Memorabilia Start Price:75,000.00 USD Estimated At:120,000.00 - 180,000.00 USD
1921-22 Babe Ruth Side Written Game Used Bat
<B>1921-22 Babe Ruth Side Written Game Used Bat, Universally Graded 10/10.</B></I> Like the player himself, we present here a sporting artifact so perfect, so far superior to its peers, that its mere existence is a fascination. For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the bat collecting hobby and its terminology, we should begin with an explanation of the concept of “side writing,” which is a fundamental component of this bat's importance. For decades it was a common practice for the Major League ballplayer to return his favorite bat to the manufacturer so that its exact specifications could be measured and used as a template for duplicates. When these bats arrived at the factory, in this case the Hillerich & Bradsby plant, they were typically hand coded with the player's name and the date, and sometimes other notations such as team affiliation, weight, length, etc. For every good reason, the “side written” bat is considered the ultimate prize among collectors as it provides the most bulletproof provenance imaginable and likewise a guarantee that the bat was the player's favored tool.<BR><BR> This is only the first of several components that factor into the supreme historical relevance and desirability of the offered lumber. Though difficult to discern in typical lighting, the text comes to life under an ultraviolet spectrum, reading “4_, Babe Ruth, 3-27-23, New York Americans.” The missing digit after the “4” appears to be either a “3” or an “8,” completing the weight in ounces upon its arrival at the Hillerich & Bradsby factory. The current weight of forty-three ounces does not necessarily prove the former, as drying of the wood could account for a loss of weight over the passing decades. It must be noted that the writing matches exactly that of Bill Morrow of the Louisville Slugger receiving department, whose side writing is found upon many other known Hillerich & Bradsbys of the era.<BR><BR> The flawless provenance that the side writing provides only paints part of the picture, however, and we must turn next to the fine use that further serves to place the bat in the hands of the game's greatest figure. Authenticator Dave Bushing notes a “Flattened hitting surface above the barrel stamp visible with naked eye which is a documented Ruth trait. A season's worth of use all in one area.” Vince Malta and John Taube of PSA/DNA Authentication Services reference, “Several ball marks are visible on the left barrel. The handle of the bat shows even wear and the finish has aged to a warm caramel patina.” Taube also notes “The fact that the hitting zone is on the left side of the barrel is significant to the bat's authenticity in that Ruth held his bat with the center brand down, not up as is commonly taught. Photographs of Ruth following through on a swing consistently show the center brand as being down.”<BR><BR> Despite the apparently long and active life in the hand's of baseball's premier long ball artist, the bat remains free of cracks and even the plague of deadwood so typically encountered on other bats of this advanced vintage. The weight of forty-three ounces--which, as previously noted, might even be lighter than issued--and the length of thirty-six inches would be considered gargantuan by today's standards, and further serve to put the larger-than-life persona of its original owner into context. The “dash-dot-dash” variation of the Hillerich & Bradsby center brand is considered the most desirable format for Ruth gamers, dating from an era when the Babe was notching more homers than most other Major League teams.<BR><BR> We've said it before, but it bears repeating-the Babe Ruth bat is far more than a mere sports collectible, but rather a piece of American iconography, a symbol of its endless promise, particularly as seen through the lens of the early twentieth century. After all, where else but in America could a boy from an orphanage elevate himself through his own skill and hard work to become the most famous man in the world? This bat, by virtue of Ruth's own personal selection, has been deemed a key component in that purely American quest. There is no Paul Bunyan's ax, no John Henry's pick, but there is Babe Ruth's bat. And there are few, if any, that could match the offered example. <I>LOA from Dave Bushing, Graded A10. LOA from Taube/Malta, Graded GU10.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Bats, Clubs, Sticks, Swords, Rif (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot