This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/16/2007.
Although reluctant at first, Babe Ruth was convinced to join the Major League Winter Tour of Japan in 1934 by a Japanese newspaper man who showed Ruth a Japanese sign that read, "Ruth Coming!" The team consisted of 14 American Leaguers with Connie Mack as manager. The highly successful 17 game tour was highlighted by Ruth's 14 home runs, as the American barnstormers played various Japanese high school and post collegiate teams. The highlight for Japanese fans is when a right handed pitcher from Kyoto, Eiji Sawamura, strikes out Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx in succession en route to a thrilling 1-0 loss. Further, catcher Moe Berg, who was fluent in Japanese, was actually undercover as a photographer for the U.S. Government in addition to his baseball duties. Less than a month later the same newspaper man establishes Japan’s first professional baseball team, the Dai Nippon Tokyo Yakyu Kurabu [the Great Japan Tokyo Baseball Club]. Subsequently, during its winter meetings, Major League Baseball bans future off-season tours of the Orient. The 1934 Baseball Tour of Japan remains one of the most intriguing events in the history of baseball. This Mizuno Official University League baseball with Japanese character stamping has been signed in black fountain pen on the sweet spot by Babe Ruth and Connie Mack, on the panels by Lou Gehrig, Bing Miller, Lefty Gomez, Jimmie Foxx, Chas Gehringer, John Quinn and two others, one of which is Mrs. Babe Ruth; a second honeymoon for the Babe and his bride, her signature makes this the perfect gift for him or her! Ball is dated November 28, 1934, unknown hand. Ball is lightly toned with an eclectic grouping of signatures that average a grade of 7. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA.