This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/27/2002.
It was known to every young boy in America: the powerful compact swing and the skyward look, followed by the pigeon-toed home run trot. At a time when baseball was unchallenged as the great American pastime, Babe Ruth was the unquestioned idol of a generation. Grey Flannel Auctions is proud to offer an incomparable jersey from baseball's greatest icon. The jersey is the only Ruth home Yankee pinstripe ever offered at auction. It was worn by the "Babe" in the mid twenties and has the name "G.H. Ruth" sewn into the neck in a white chain stitch next to the "Spalding" label. The stitching was originally red but has oxidized to white over the years. This is the oldest known Ruth jersey extant.
On either side of the sixth button down are buttonholes through which Ruth pulled strings to allow him to keep his shirt neatly tucked into his pants. After Ruth wore this jersey, it was sent down to the minors where a Bush League name, which has been professionally removed, was added to the front of the shirt. The minor leaguer who wore the shirt had the front tail trimmed, but subsequently, a piece of Yankee pinstripe material was added to the shirt. The front and back tails have been trimmed and restored to what appears to be their original grandeur. The jersey shows good game-use and in our opinion is an authentic New York Yankees game-used home flannel pinstripe jersey worn by the great Bambino circa 1925.