Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
While establishing himself as the game's greatest star, by 1930 Babe Ruth had also ran himself ragged, over-eating, over-drinking and over-spending. Then, just when The Babe seemed on the verge of indulging himself out of the game, he met a then married a former showgirl name Claire Hodges. Every bit as brassy and assertive as Ruth, Claire reigned in the big man and curbed his wild lifestyle, enabling him to shift from superstar to living legend. The two became an inseparable unit, with Ruth still able to indulge his impulses, but in moderation under his wife's watchful eye. Most importantly, Claire was also able to manage the Babe's finances, enabling him to retire comfortably after leaving the game in 1935.
This “Chemical Bank & Trust Company of New York” check is dated “September 15, 1942, made out to “Claire Ruth” in the amount of “$50.00”. The Babe signed the check "GH Ruth" beautifully in black fountain pen (10/10), and also endorsed “GH Ruth” on the reverse. Not only has the Babe added signature to this remarkably preserved check, he also signed his wife’s name twice, first when he wrote out the check to her, and second by signing her name for the endorsement. We have researched actual checks on her own Claire Ruth account, and her signature on her account is different than the one on the reverse of this check.
Ruth likely had to sign her name to deposit the check into their mutual account. The last name of the endorsed “Claire Ruth” is a perfect match to how the Babe writes his own last name. The first name Claire is also written in a slow and deliberate style, as Babe was trying to slowly forge her name. However, the last name is written in a typical Ruth fluid script. So, this check actually has two full Ruth signatures and two half Ruth signatures. The 3-1/16" x 8-3/16" check shows normal bank cancellation holes and stamps, none of which affects either of Ruth’s classic signatures, or his wife’s “signatures”. However, there is a very light fold down the middle which is barely noticeable except under close examination. The check has been examined and encapsulated by PSA/DNA who has awarded this gorgeous signed check their top score of GEM MINT 10, and also comes with a full PSA/DNA LOA indicating all the signatures are in Ruth’s own hand.