This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
In 1932, the New York Yankees won their fourth and last World Series with Babe Ruth as the premier player on the team, nay, the Major Leagues. They swept the Chicago Cubs in a Series filled with bad tempers and bad blood between the two teams. After having already hit a home run earlier in Game three, Ruth came to the plate in the fifth inning to face Cubs pitcher Charlie Root. Amidst the jeers of the crowd and a count of two and two, Ruth allegedly stepped out of the batter's box and pointed to the centerfield stands, "calling his shot." On the next pitch, Ruth slammed a home run into the bleachers, directly above the spot he had purportedly indicated. The world may never know if he really called his shot, but the legend remains one of the most famous moments in baseball history during the game's "golden age." This entertaining relief painting celebrating that moment was done by renowned New York painter and sculptor Steve Sax. Sax's works of mixed and multimedia have depicted some of America's most popular sports heroes and celebrities, in a camp style reminiscent of master of Pop art Red Grooms. This piece is done in the relief style, where part of the artwork protrudes slightly from the base, while still being attached. Made entirely of wood, the base measures 48" wide x 60" tall. Painted on this base in dark colors are the Chicago Cubs fans at Wrigley Field, in an appropriately dour mood, and a catcher and umpire on the right side. The lower 27" depict the bricks of Wrigley. On the left, disattached from an 8" block of wood, is a wood cutout in relief onto which has been painted the likeness of Babe Ruth, bat in hand, right index finger pointing to "call his shot." This cutout measures 60" tall x 48" wide at the bottom, where home plate and the dirt as masterfully depicted in a grainy style (12" tall). It can easily be reattached with some strong wood glue. On the top of the bat is painted "Trademark, George Babe Ruth, Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." There is a twisted wire on the back for hanging on the wall. This artwork originally hung in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and later in Mickey Mantle's Restaurant in New York City. This item will be expensive to ship.