January 22, 2020 Holiday Auction (#53)

Lot #3:

1948 Babe Ruth High Grade Single-Signed OAL Baseball (Full PSA/DNA • Autograph Graded 10 • Likely Ruth's Last Signed Baseball)

This exceptionally high-grade baseball dates to the final days of Babe Ruth’s life, a determination made possible by the unique stamping format of the OAL (Harridge) baseball that features an unimprovable autograph from the Babe. PSA/DNA has authenticated the baseball grading the autograph a perfect 10 and the baseball itself a 7, with an overall grade of NM-MT+ 8.5. Previous auctions of Babe Ruth single-signed baseballs of the NM-MT+ 8.5 quality have each commanded final prices in excess of $75,000, and those examples featured autograph grades of 9, as opposed to the offered 10. Ruth signed in black ink with the added inscription “To Loraine”. When Ruth was sick in 1948 he went to a restaurant, the waiter asked him if he would sign a ball for his daughter whose birthday was that day. Babe declined, but later came back and asked him for his daughter’s name, “Loraine”. Ruth signed the ball and left, and he passed away the very next day. This baseball is likely the last ball signed by Ruth and is the best example of his autograph we have ever seen. Accompanied by a Full PSA/DNA LOA grading the baseball NM-MT+ 8.5, and a notarized letter detailing the story of Ruth’s signing that day for the waiter’s daughter.