Babe Ruth Jersey Sets Sports Record | God's World News

Babe Ruth Jersey Sets Sports Record

06/19/2019
  • Babe
    New York Yankees’ Babe Ruth stands in the dugout during a game at Cleveland in 1929. A road jersey worn by the Babe has sold at auction for $5.64 million, making it the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold. AP Photo

He was called “The Sultan of Swat,” “The Bambino,” “The Colossus of Clout,” “The Babe,” or just “Babe.” But his birth name was George Herman Ruth. The pitcher-turned-hard-slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees made a claim to fame in American Major League Baseball with a career that lasted 22 seasons. His status as one of the greatest ball players of all time was put to the test by the commercial market on Saturday—and it came through batting a thousand. A Babe Ruth road jersey dating to 1928-30 sold at auction for an unprecedented $5.64 million.

Hunt Auctions, which specializes in sports-related collectibles, handled Saturday’s sale. The group tweeted, “The Babe is still breaking records!” It says the jersey’s final price makes it the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold—from any sport. An older Ruth jersey from 1920 previously sold for $4,415,658.

The top-selling jersey was graded in “excellent/superior” condition. It also came with “authentication”: verification that it had, indeed, been worn in an away game by The Great Bambino.

The auction was conducted at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees jersey was part of a collection of items that Ruth’s family put up for sale. Other items offered included cleats, photographs, baseballs, a suitcase, trophies, and other memorabilia. His granddaughter, Linda Ruth Tosetti, says in a statement that a portion of the proceeds will go to charity. She told CBS New York that she and the rest of the famous player’s family “just want people to enjoy and appreciate my grandfather’s stuff.”

(New York Yankees’ Babe Ruth stands in the dugout during a game at Cleveland in 1929. A road jersey worn by the Babe has sold at auction for $5.64 million, making it the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold. AP Photo)