This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/16/2007.
Babe Ruth's signature is by far the most popular and sought after autograph in the hobby today. It is of course most prized on a baseball, exemplifying the game that made him a household name around the world. Having hit "only" 25 home runs in 1925, many in the press suggested that the Sultan of Swat was past his prime, but the Babe would soon change that opinion. His best years, apparently, had not yet arrived. In 1926, the Bambino batted an extraordinarily impressive .372 with an astonishing .516 on base percentage. With 184 hits and 146 RBIs, he also managed to belt out 47 homers to lead the league, which he would do 12 times in his career. Further, Ruth hit three homers in Game Four of the World Series, a feat he would repeat two years later in Game Four of the 1928 Fall Classic. It is well established that, for all the feats that Ruth is famous for, the apex is his ability to hit the home run. Whether young or old, healthy or under the weather, Ruth could hit a homer practically on command. In the home run hitting field, although some came before him and many came after him, not one has come close to approaching Babe Ruth's flair and panash in executing this very specialized task. This spectacular blue and red stitched Reach OAL baseball bears the stamp of "A.T. Baum" on the bottom panel; Allan T. Baum was the President of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) from 1912-1919. The inimitable Babe Ruth has penned his signature in blue fountain pen on the sweet spot, the quote marks around "Babe" being indicative of Ruth's signature during this period. On the side panel, Ruth has dated the ball "Oct. 20/19" in his own hand. This is one of the five earliest known dated Babe Ruth autographed baseballs and perhaps the only single! There is an unexplained abrasion on the ball, but under the ultraviolet lamp no evidence of other any other signature appears, making this a true single and thus a true rarity. The ball is toned and shows some spotting, the Ruth signature grades a near-9 with date inscription that grades a strong 8. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA.