Highly desirable vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 full-length photo of Ruth posing at the end of one of his mighty swings, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To my good friend, Mrs. J. P. Tehan, From, Babe Ruth.” Mild scattered soiling, a tack hole to the right edge, and slight rippling to top edge, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from PSA/DNA and JSA. A fantastic pose of the ‘Sultan of Swat.’ Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA.
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Official Amateur League ‘No. 50’ baseball signed and inscribed on a side panel extending into the sweet spot in fountain pen, “To Douglas, From Babe Ruth.” In very good condition, with scattered soiling and scuffs (a few slightly affecting the inscription and signature, most noticeably to the “o” in “To,” “F” in “From,” and “t” in “Ruth”), and a few small stains along the seams. A desirable single-signed baseball with classic red-and-blue stitching, with an especially large, prominent signature. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Personal check, 8.5 x 3, filled out in another hand and signed by Ruth, “G. H. Ruth,” payable to L. J. Phillips Co., Inc. for $205.84, March 11, 1946. In fine condition, with expected cancellation holes and light show-through from a bank stamp to reverse, and a pencil cancellation mark touching the first letter of the signature. A supremely bold signature. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Fountain pen signature, “Sincerely, Babe Ruth,” on an off-white 3.5 x 1.5 card. Also signed later by the young lady crowned Miss America in 1951, “Best wishes, Yolande Betbeze, ‘Miss America.’” Attractively matted and framed with an image of Ruth to an overall size of 10.5 x 12.5. In very good condition, with moderate overall creases and light soiling. Betbeze was rumored to have dated Joe DiMaggio, though it is also claimed that they were just friends—in later interviews, Betbeze revealed rather intimate details regarding Joltin’ Joe’s anatomy, offering further evidence of the former. The original collector was almost certainly well-connected to the New York Yankees organization or the city’s elite social scene, given that Ruth passed away at least three years prior to Betbeze’s signing the same card. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Official Reach American League (Ban Johnson) baseball signed in fountain pen on the sweet spot, “Babe Ruth,” and on a side panel, “Lou Gehrig.” In very good condition, with scattered surface marks and dings, a Global label affixed near the league stamp, and the Ruth signature a few shades light but mostly legible; Gehrig’s signature is relatively bold and quite appealing. A scarce example of perhaps the most desirable combination in the hobby. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Official unbranded baseball signed in black ink on the sweet spot. The upper panel bears a date notation in an unknown hand of June 17, 1948, the same week Ruth’s number was retired at Yankee Stadium and just two months before he would pass away. Overall toning, soiling, and staining, scattered scuffs and dings (affecting portions of signature), and the signature light but legible, otherwise very good condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. Single-signed Ruth baseballs are one of baseball’s most desirable artifacts—pristine examples can reach into tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this baseball represents a respectable, legible example of this crown jewel of the collecting world. RR Auction COA.
Personal check, 8.5 x 3, filled out and signed by Ruth, “G. H. Ruth,” payable to Bayers Auto Sales Inc. for $69.62, January 8, 1946. In fine condition, with two vertical folds, one through a single letter of signature, staple holes to left blank area, and cancellation holes to body. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.