Memory Lane Inc. | The Leader in Vintage Sports Cards & Collectibles
One of the Few Known "Side Written" Ruth Bats & Possibly The Finest One Extant! Full PSA/John Taube GU 10 LOA (Cert# 1B04676)
America could never truly be considered a "unified" Nation until it survived an excruciating Civil War from 1861-1865; when via President Abraham Lincoln's unequivocal leadership, the Northern and Southern States were forever united as one solidified country.
It was only four years later that the inaugural professional baseball team (Cincinnati Red Stockings) paved the way for a popular sport dubbed "baseball", with players now being paid a handsome sum of money to display their selected skillsets before an adoring fan base.America's link to baseball grew stronger throughout the decades, and by the late 19th century was titled either "America's" or "National" Pastime.
It is no secret that our country has experienced excruciating hardships since the first professional game was played in 1869 including two World Wars, depression, rioting and severe racial tensions. Yet, throughout these painstaking adversities, the one constant has always been baseball as either a recreational or professional obsession to the millions of aspiring followers who simply cannot eat, sleep or drink absence its presence.
With that clearly understood, there is a single player who via his unparalleled excellence and captivating persona virtually stands above the game itself, and his name is George Herman "Babe" Ruth. The "Babe" as most people refer to him, single-handedly saved baseball at a most tumultuous time when the legendary "Black Sox Eight" gambled away the 1919 World Series. Americans felt cheated, and it took a "giant of a man" such as Ruth to draw people back thru the turnstiles which he so successfully accomplished after his trade from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees.
In his first 1920 season with the Yankees, Ruth would wallop an inconceivable 54 round trippers, following up that season by clouting 59 homers in 1921 to nearly out-homer every major league team! His colossal-like power not only awed his fanbase but more significantly rejuvenated a seemingly scorned game that was on the heels of collapse due to the Black Sox "throwing" the 1919 Fall Classic. The "Home Run" was the new avenue for excitement, and exhilarated fans once again stormed ballparks to watch their favorite teams wage battle.
In lieu of the "Sultan of Swat's" incredible presence on both our National Pastime's and memorabilia circuit's grandest stages, it is no secret that exalted game used items from his early playing days arguably command the most staggering price tags. That mindset reached a world-record high when a Ruth game-worn 1920 uniform sold for the unfathomable sum of $4.4 Million several years ago, solidifying Ruth's unapproachable stature among the most sophisticated collectors. While not as revered with regard to pinnacle value, game used Ruth bats accompanied by unwavering provenance stand tall as one of the hobby's most iconic heirlooms.
In fact, his majestic bat used to hit the first home run in the inaugural 1923 Yankee Stadium opening day game sold many years ago for a then miraculous sum of $1.2 Million. Other PSA Graded 10 specimens now command figures between $0.4 and $0.8M Million, with the overall provenance the determining factor for the PSA assessment and resulting pricing. Simply stated, impeccable provenance from either Ruth himself, bat usage (ball marks/notches), related family provenance and of course bat specifications (size, weight, labeling, etc.) all combine to govern the respective grade and ultimate value.Unfortunately for a starving group of advanced game-used bat enthusiasts, there is severe shortage of game used Ruth bats carrying the highly coveted PSA 10 assessment that leaves no room for doubt as to its prior use by the legendary "Bambino". It is therefore with great pride and distinct pleasure that we at Memory Lane now offer what is one of the finest Babe Ruth game used Hillerich & Bradsby model bats extant via its Louisville Slugger "Factory Side Written" notations that leave ZERO doubt as to its game use by the immortal "Sultan of Swat".
Graded an unquestionable GU 10 by the illustrious PSA Company (John Taube/Vince Malta), its direct use is irrefutably dated to the 1922 season, with its "3-27-23" factory side written date clearly noted on Ruth's Professional Bat Ordering Record (PBOR). The written marks on the right barrel are as follows: "4_Babe.Ruth 3-27-23 NY Am", with the notations scripted in the hand of renowned Louisville Slugger employee Henry Morrow who used a grease pencil for his markings.
From the 1910's thru the early 40's, when players ordered a new batch of bats it was standard practice to send one of their game used bats to the Louisville Slugger factory as an exemplar for the new bats. Morrow would be responsible for inscribing its weight, date received, player name and team affiliation on the returned bat.
Therefore, these Morrow markings clearly reside as a certificate of authenticity in itself, justifying the undisputed game use of this colossal sized "Ruthian" piece of lumber that weighs a staggering 43-ounces to go with its extensive 36" length.
Unfortunately, the side written information has worn over nearly a century of time to the point where the "3" in "43" (representing the bat's weight in "ounces") is completely absent as well as the "NY Amer Lea." missing the "er Lea". Yet, the virtually unscathed remaining Morrow notations are completely intact placing this bat as a bona-fide Ruth "gamer".
The aforementioned "Side Written" information clearly justifies PSA's "perfect" 10-grade with this 1922 Babe Ruth ash wood Hillerich & Bradsby model bat un-cracked and portraying several ball marks on the left barrel above Ruth's rather large branded facsimile signature. This large facsimile signature coupled with the "dash- dot-dash" that is affixed beneath the Hillerich & Bradsby logo on the center barrel directly place this bat to 1922.
Interestingly enough, 1922 was the FIRST season for a large Ruth fascimile signature and the LAST for the "dash-dot-dash". This alone definitively dates the bat to 1922 but additional evidence is duly noted as follows. The 43-ounces/36" length falls directly into Ruth's specifications for the early 1920's (typically Ruth used low to mid-40 ounce bats during this timeframe). As Ruth aged, he started ordering lighter bats to accelerate his bat speed, lowering the ounces to 40-42 by the mid 20's.
The late 20's to early 30's would see the weight taper off to high 30's to 40 ounces, and by the time he retired in 1935, he was only utilizing mid-30's ounce bats. The final "thumbs up" validating its impeccable authenticity is the "medium" classified game use assessment based on the previously mentioned multiple ball marks on the left barrel. Ruth consistently gripped his bat with the label turned away from him, resulting in a left-handed batter's contact to typically come from the left barrel.
This "label down" grip has been photo documented a myriad of times from the seemingly countless number of Ruth batting photos circulating throughout the hobby. In conclusion, along with the unquestionable "Factory Side Written" data, the aforementioned bat specifications, medium game use and 1922 markings all combine to result in what is one of the most "irrefutable" Babe Ruth bats on the planet!
At the time this PSA GU 10 LOA was issued (January 2, 2013), there were only 3 documented "Factory Side Written" Babe Ruth game used bats. The other two include side written dates of "7-11-16" (with no accompanying Babe Ruth name) and "2-6-29"; placing this extraordinary offering as the earliest New York Yankees "Factory Side Written Babe Ruth model bat extant!
Since the PSA LOA issue date, one additional side written bat has surfaced, a 40K Model weighing 38-ounces and issued long after this museum worthy 1922 wooden treasure. The condition of this time-defying keepsake is absolutely spectacular to say the least.
The un-cracked ash wood still retains many of its original factory issued qualities (save the ultra-significant ball marks), with the critical wood "finish" aging to an outstanding eye pleasing warm caramel patina. The previously mentioned ball marks affixed to the left barrel above Babe Ruth's classic facsimile script are both subtle and definitive. "Subtle" to the point where they do not detract from the overall stellar aesthetics, and "definitive" whereby their sheer existence provides additional provenance to the fact that "Ruth" clearly utilized this bat in the 1922 season, possibly walloping several long balls towards the furthest confines of either the Polo Grounds or any other A.L. ballparks (Yankee Stadium opened in 1923).
What else can we possibly say regarding this breathtaking Babe Ruth bat that via its undisputed "Factory Side-Written" notations by the hallowed Louisville Slugger Company, arguably resides as one of his premier game-used specimens. Babe Ruth's unparalleled standing as baseball's greatest all-time player is virtually "non-negotiable", with his remarkable pitching and batting prowess a dynamic duo never before seen in Major League history.
Indeed, had he not chosen to give up the pitching rubber for an everyday place in the batter's box, Ruth would have most likely been enshrined in Cooperstown as a pitcher. Fortunately for our National Pastime, the "Bambino" choose wisely, for his earth shattering batting exploits place him at the pinnacle of the baseball world. The thought of holding this remarkable offering immediately "turns back the clock" to an era when Ruth was placing a stranglehold on opposing pitchers via his "jaw-dropping" mammoth blasts.
Amazingly, the "Big Palooka" could swing a 40 to 50-ounce bat faster and with more torque than most of the steroid users today, and this arguable finest Ruth gamer is a steadfast reminder of everything this "larger than life" legend stands for not just in America but across the globe. A 100% Ruth gamer due to its combined impeccable provenance, specifications and markings, it rules out ANY UNCERTAINTY WHATSOVER, and as a breath of fresh air requires no "leap of faith" with respect to its unquestionable authenticity.
Regarding its prospective value, we defer to you, the world-class collector, to ultimately decide its true worth, realizing its pinnacle-like stature will continue to escalate its nearly boundless investment potential. Who wouldn't want to claim ownership of this museum worthy masterpiece that truly inspires any baseball addict to yearn for emulating the "Sultan of Swat" himself by gripping its sanctified handle and fulfill the unquenchable thirst of feeling young once again!