Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/19/2014
The late 20's to the early 30's was the high-water mark of The Babe's career. The best ballplayer on the best baseball team in the game, Ruth batted .348 and hit 236 homers and led the AL 5 times in that category during the seasons these pants date to - 1928-1932. It goes without saying that if these pants could talk, oh, the stories they would tell - from the "Murderer's Row" that completely dominated the American League to his "Called Shot" in the 1932 World Series. During the years these pants were worn, The Babe had transcended being just a baseball player into the most famous sportsman in the entire world. Even his name had ceased to be simply a name - "Ruthian" became an adjective to describe something larger than life.
These are the pants worn by The Babe while doing what he did better than anything or anybody else. Cut from Spalding's heavy professional grade gray wool, the pants are a "Ruthian" size "42" which matches the other known Ruth pants of the era. "Babe Ruth" is found in the waistband in red chain stitching. The pants have been dated to the years 1928-32 by an intersection of 3 specific details visible: 1) The Spalding label sewn in the waistband is of the style used by the manufacturer from 1925-1932. 2) The cut and style of the pants are the type used by the Yankees from 1927-1938 and 3) the style of chain stitching used to spell out "Babe Ruth" was used from 1928-1938. The condition of the pants show heavy use, and were likely worn multiple seasons during this championship period. There is an 8" tear on the right leg which has been repaired. Both leg openings appear to have been hand cut and tailored. MEARS has thoroughly examined this pair of The Babe's pants and given it their Authentic grade as having been worn circa 1928-32.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.