An iconic game-used Babe Ruth bat has set a new world record by selling for $1.85 million in a recent auction. The historic bat dates back to the early 1920s, when Ruth was at the height of his career, and is a true piece of baseball history.
Ruth, also known as “The Bambino,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His 22-season career spanned from 1914 to 1935, during which he became a legend due to his impressive record-breaking feats, including his record for the most home runs in a season and his career record of 714 home runs.
This particular bat was used by Ruth during the early part of his career, around 1923-24, which coincides with his prime years. It’s unclear which specific home runs, if any, were hit with this bat, but even holding it in your hands is awe-inspiring given its historical significance.
The bat is a Louisville Slugger, the famous brand that Ruth endorsed and used throughout much of his career. The bat was authenticated by PSA/DNA, a leading third-party authenticator in the sports memorabilia world.
This isn’t the first Babe Ruth bat to sell for a large sum of money. In fact, his game-used bats consistently fetch high prices at auction due to their rarity and historic significance.
However, this particular auction set a new world record for the highest price paid for a Ruth bat. The previous record was set in 2014 when a Ruth bat sold for $1.2 million. Thus, this recent sale is a significant indication of the continued demand for Ruth-related memorabilia.
While $1.85 million may seem like an exorbitant amount of money to pay for a baseball bat, it’s worth noting that this is far from an isolated incident. In recent years, other sports memorabilia items, including game-worn jerseys and even shoes have sold for similar prices at auction.
Ultimately, the market for sports memorabilia continues to be strong, and items related to legendary players like Babe Ruth will always be in demand. For collectors and sports enthusiasts alike, owning a piece of this history is priceless, and that’s why the record-breaking price paid for this Babe Ruth bat comes as no surprise.
