(LOT 1652)
1933 Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Autographed Baseball from Exhibition Game vs. Albie Booth's Chevies PSA/DNA LOA
ALBIE BOOTH VS. NY YANKEES BALL!!! In 1933, the New York Yankees were the reigning World Champions with one of the greatest lineups in Major League history, bolstered by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Dickey, Lazzeri, Sewell, Combs, Ruffing, Pennock and Gomez–all Cooperstown inductees. They were known the world over and lived up to their mythical status as the "Bronx Bombers", capturing seven championships from 1927 to 1939. Up in New Haven, Connecticut, they had their own Hall of Fame worthy athlete, and hometown hero, that the community rallied around in Albie Booth, who captained the football and baseball team at Yale University. Booth was a one-man wrecking crew on the gridiron for the Bulldogs over his career at Yale, often taking the team on his shoulders to defeat Ivy League rivals like Brown, Dartmouth and Harvard. Not only did Albie "singlehandedly" defeat Harvard 3-0 on a field goal as a senior, but he also blasted a grand slam against the Crimson to beat their archrival 4-3 in the Commencement Day Baseball Game of 1932. Booth defined the title of "hometown hero".

In 1933, New Haven hosted the heavy-hitting Yankees in an exhibition game at Donovan Field against a squad of semipro and college ballplayers, including their namesake "Albie Booth's New Haven Chevrolet Team". Fans packed the stands and bleachers in warm-ups to watch Ruth and Gehrig launch ball after ball into orbit. Awestruck and overmatched, Booth's team lost 13-5 to the Bombers, who mounded former Yalie, Johnny Broaca. Offered here is a Major League ball signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and inscribed "New York Yankees vs. Albie Booths Chevies" in the north panel and "New Haven – July 17, 1933" on the south (in an unknown hand). Babe Ruth has signed prominently on the sweet spot, graded PSA 5, and Gehrig has added his signature on the west panel, a 3 according to PSA. Each signature shows signs of shellack as the surrounding area of the autograph appears much darker than the overall condition of the ball which shows heavy usage, earning it a PSA 4 grade overall. Toning and wear are visible throughout the horsehide sphere, though Ruth's signature remains clear and legible, with Gehrig's penning slightly obstructed and weathered due to 90 years of aging. This is a wonderful artifact featuring two of MLB's greatest hitters at one of the many events at which they participated to help grow the love of the game. PSA/DNA LOA included.

MIN BID $2,000
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