Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
Babe and Lou; Ruth and Gehrig; the Bambino and the Iron Horse. Two names synonymous with slugging, Ruth and Gehrig were the two most prominent members of the New York Yankees great “Murderer’s Row” teams of the late 1920’s. Culminating with 1927 “Bronx Bombers” championship squad, Ruth joined the Yankees in 1921 and Gehrig joined Ruth in 1923. Their baseball reference and encyclopedia statistics pages are bludgeoned with bold face type denoting league leaders in the various offensive categories. During the decade that they batted third and fourth together, if Ruth didn't lead the league in one category or another Gehrig usually did.
The Babe led the AL in home runs in 1923 and 1924, and every season from 1926-1931. Gehrig led the AL in RBI in 1927 and 1928, and again in 1930 and 1931 when he also led the league in home runs, RBI’s and average capturing the Triple Crown in 1934. Ruth led the AL in RBI’s in 1923 and 1925 and was on top in batting average in 1924. It is perhaps the greatest demonstration of slugging and pure power by a pair of teammates.
This dual signed ball was autographed by Ruth and Gehrig in the prime of their careers and at the height of their fame. Quite possibly on one of the extensive barnstorming tours they conducted together, captaining their “Bustin’ Babes” and “Larrupin’ Lous” exhibition squads to the delight of baseball starved fans in rural and remote locales. Ruth’s easily recognizable and iconic signature is in black fountain pen and occupies the ball’s sweet spot grading a solid 8-9. Gehrig’s signature, also in black fountain pen, is located on the right side panel beneath the Reach manufacturer’s logo, and is not quite as prominent grading 6-7. This Official American League ball has red and blue stitching with American League President Ernest Barnard’s fading facsimile signature to the right of the labeling, which places the ball during his 1927-1931 term. The ball appears to have been game-used with a consistent coat of dirt smudges, discoloration and a blown stitch or two. This supreme example of a dual-signed ball comes with full PSA/DNA LOA #V04848.