This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
After a three-year drought, the New York Yankees dynasty that begun in the Roaring Twenties had its final hurrah in 1932 when the Bronx Bombers won 107 games and then rolled over the Chicago Cubs in a 4-game World Series sweep. This would be Babe Ruth's last "Ruthian" season, with 41 homers, 137 RBIs and a .341 average, In two years, with his numbers declining and eclipsed by Lou Gehrig, the Babe would be a Yankee no more. Fittingly, Ruth made his last moment in the sun a memorable one when in the Series he "called his shot" against the Cubs' Charlie Root and then – so the legend goes – smacked it over the wall right where he had pointed his bat. This awe-inspiring ball was signed by 18 members of the ‘32 "Murderer's Row" team, including Ruth and Gehrig (who hit .349 with 34 homers and 151 RBIs), as well as four other Hall of Famers, Bill Dickey, Joe Sewell, Earle Combs and manager Joe McCarthy. Typically, Ruth's signature on the ONL Heydler ball is king-sized, larger than anyone else's and on the sweet spot in black fountain pen. While it's somewhat faded and has a white spot on the "R," the signature is readable and rates a 5. Gehrig's signature is also in black fountain pen, on a side panel, and while it too is a bit faded it is darker and clearer than Ruth's and rates a 6. Some of the other signatures are very light but readable as well, rating 5s and 6s. This historic ball comes with a PSA letter of authenticity.