This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 7/8/2004.
"Colonel" Jacob Ruppert purchased the New York Yankees in 1914 for the sum of $450,000. Hiring Miller Hacking as manager in 1917 and acquiring Babe Ruth in 1919 are widely considered as Ruppert's most important moves in creating the legendary early Yankees teams. Ruppert is also credited with designing the Yankees' famous pinstripe uniform in hopes it would make the bulky Babe Ruth look somewhat more slim. In 1935, Ruppert released Ruth, allowing him to sign with the Boston Braves. This is a 9-1/4" x 10-1/2" (framed to 11" x 12-1/2") cartoon that appeared in the NY Post on 2/27/35, depicting a giant Babe Ruth walking out of Yankee Stadium, and holding a bat and bag with the inscription, "Vice-President And Ass't Manager Of Boston Braves." The cartoon has been mounted to a piece of cardboard on which is written in fountain pen "Life Begins At 41" (a reference to Ruth's age at the time) and "N.Y. Post - Feb. 27, 1935." What makes this an absolutely unique and one of a kind item is that it was personally presented to Ruppert by the NY Post and hung in his office! Inscribed on the bottom of the cartoon is, "for Colonel Ruppert and George Perry, best wishes, N.Y. Post Sports and [the artist] Gus Uhlmann." Comes with a letter from PSA/DNA.