LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 May Signature Sports Collectibles #709  / 

19319

1927 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed "Stat" Baseba

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Autographs (Original) Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
1927 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed Stat Baseba
<B>1927 Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig Signed "Stat" Baseball.</B></I> We've never seen anything quite like the offered sphere, and we don't expect to ever see another. While today it is commonplace for athletes to enhance their autographs with various facts, figures and notations, such was not the case back in 1927, when this special ball was signed. It appears that the ball was initially autographed in black ink by Ruth, Bob Meusel, Dazzy Vance and perhaps a few others, and while Ruth is still quite visible at 3/10, the same cannot be said of his black ink companions, which border on complete disappearance. At a later time, we believe, a blue ink pen was presented to Gehrig along with this ball, and, for some unknown reason, he was compelled to add his 1927 home run total of "47" below his autograph. We believe that, at this point, that pen was handed to Ruth, who added in blue ink beside his black autograph, "Oct. 27, 1927, 60 Home Runs." While a famous signed photo making reference to this historic record-setting accomplishment, sold in the famous Barry Halper auction in 1999, is known in the hobby, we are not aware of any baseball that does so. And we couldn't imagine any that might include Gehrig's stunning long ball total as well. Ruth and Gehrig's blue ink writing is a good bit stronger at 7/10, but a rarity such as this makes talk of condition seem almost crass. We're also a bit confused by the baseball, which clearly has "American League Ball" stamping, but further stamping just above that matches no known official ball, and black and red stitching besides (rather than blue and red, as is proper for period OAL balls). But all of these mysteries aside, we're left with one of the most exciting Ruth/Gehrig signed baseballs ever to reach the hobby's auction block. <I>LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Balls, Pucks, etc. - Encased, La (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot