This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/4/2016
On June 13, 1948 the New York Yankees hosted another monumental event at Yankee Stadium when they honored the career of Babe Ruth, a day affectionately known as Babe Ruth Day. It was only nine short years after they honored Lou Gehrig in similar fashion in the first ever Old Timers Day.
No other organization celebrates its history better than the New York Yankees.
That day in 1948 was also the celebration of the first ever New York Yankees World Series Championship from 1923, the first season the franchise played in its current home of Yankee Stadium. Also known as “The House That Ruth Built”, the Stadium that day included all the members of that 1923 team, a reunion of sorts with all Ruth’s friends, buddies and “pals”.
Similar to when they celebrated Gehrig’s fabulous career in 1939, the Yankees introduced Ruth to HIS fans, which then rained adoration upon The Bambino once again. During the pre-game ceremony (there was still a game to be played against Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians), among the anecdotes and stories told, Ruth was presented with various gifts. One of these gifts was a gold watch presented to Ruth by the New York Yankees organization.
This 7.25 x 10 inch letter on “Babe Ruth” stationery is dated June 14, 1948 (one day later) and reads, “My dear Dan: May I take this opportunity of thanking you and the New York Yankees organization for the watch which I received from you on Sunday. It was deeply appreciated. It was unfortunate that the weatherman played tricks on us but the lack of clear weather was made up for by the warmth of the ovation the Old Timers received. And I especially wish to add my words of thank you for the privilege of participating in this celebration. With kind personal regards, believe me, I am, Sincerely, Babe Ruth”. The signature below is in blue fountain pen, and grades minimally (“9/10”).
The letter has the usual folds, has some light staining near the top edge, and is matted with glue to a black construction paper background. This letter was part of a tremendous collection of Babe Ruth memorabilia accumulated by the New York Yankees organization and presented to Claire Ruth after the Babe passed two months after this day of celebration.
Long before Babe Ruth Day occurred, the Yankee organization began to accumulate memorabilia from Babe Ruth’s Yankee career; collecting photos, clipping newspaper columns, garnering letters of well-wishes from numerous long time friends of Ruth and high rankings baseball people. All these photographs, letters, articles, and press materials were used to produce an extraordinary gift of respect, a 19 x 23 inch 80 page album title “BABE RUTH LIFETIME OF PICTURES AND LETTERS”. This album was presented by the New York Yankee organization after The Babe passed to Claire Ruth, the Babe’s widow.
This album was impressive in every way, a tremendous undertaking by a great organization and was treasured by Claire Ruth for decades before the ultimate New York Yankee and Babe Ruth collector, Barry Halper, acquired it many years later. The album was originally sold at auction in 1999 during Sotheby’s famous Barry Halper Collection auction.
One of the key pieces within that album was this offered “Thank You” letter directly from the Babe to New York Yankees owner Dan Topping, in appreciation for the wonderful day and gold watch the organization presented to Ruth that special day in 1948. It has been carefully cut from that original presentation album, and offered here at auction. We at Goldin Auctions are honored to offer such a wonderful piece of Babe Ruth signed memorabilia referencing Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium. This item comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA (AA06094).