This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/5/2007.
The "All-America" Baseball award was bestowed annually upon the best players in the game following the regular season and was the most prominent means of recognition as a standout in the sport before the Hall of Fame inducted its original class in 1936. The great Babe Ruth was Chairman of the group that presented the prestigious award, the "All-America Board of Baseball." Ruth, along with sportswriters from Major League cities, voted for the Board's honorees through the mid-1930s. Matted and framed to 21" x 25", this particular award was presented in 1926 to HOFer Rogers Hornsby, then a second baseman for the Cardinals who would soon lead them to the World Series Championship over the Yankees a month later. Award reads "The All America Board of Baseball, George H. "Babe" Ruth, Chairman, having considered the performance of all eligible baseball players in the United States, hereby designates Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis cardinals as a member of the All America Baseball Team 1926, Approved September 10th, 1926."Signed in fountain pen "George H. Babe Ruth" along with the signatures of (ostensibly) sportswriters W.S Farnsworth (New York), Warren Brown (Chicago), Jack Malaney (Boston), Bud Shaver (Detroit), Ed Bang (Cleveland), J.E. Wray (St. Louis), Tom Swope (Cincinnati) and three others. Ribbon seal on lower left, one horizontal fold in center and minor creasing, appears to be EX-EXMT. Ruth signature grades a strong 8 to near 9, other signatures average a grade of 8. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA. A fantastic and significant display piece.