The run of record setting sports memorabilia sales continued this weekend as a baseball glove personally donated by Babe Ruth to former St. Louis Browns 3B Jimmy Austin sold for $1.53M at auction.
The glove, which was specially manufactured for Ruth and used between 1927 and 1933, shattered the previous record of $387,500 paid for a Lou Gehrig glove in 1999.
The buyer, who chose to remain anonymous, purchased the piece of Yankees history at the 19th annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory sale on November 12th. David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, remarked that “This monumental glove is truly of the most historic pieces of its medium to have ever been offered at public auction.”
Ruth, who is arguably the most famous baseball player in the history of the sport, won three World Series with the New York Yankees during the years he’s believed to have worn this particular glove model.
Though the authentication process couldn’t pinpoint a specific year or any particular games the slugger may have worn the glove in, industry insiders have no doubt about its validity.
If the glove was indeed used in 1927, it’s possible the glove’s value could be even higher as that particular Yankees squad, often referred to as the “Murderer’s Row” lineup, was one of the most potent in the storied history of the franchise.
Ruth would finish his career with a .342 average, while accumulating 2,873 hits, 714 HRs, 2,214 RBIs, an ERA of 2.28 and 94 wins.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Paul Thompson. This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publicationoccurred prior to January 1, 1927, and if not then due to lack of notice or renewal. See this page for further explanation.