Image source: AP/Corbis/© Bettmann
Nearly 100 years after Babe Ruth’s legendary “called shot” in the 1932 World Series, the jersey he wore that day might sell for as much as $30 million at auction. Heritage Auctions will be offering this iconic piece of sports history on Saturday night in Dallas.
The story behind this jersey is as legendary as the man who wore it. On October 1, 1932, during Game 3 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Babe Ruth made history.
In the fifth inning, with the game tied, Babe Ruth made a pointing gesture at the plate. Moments later, he hit a home run to center field off Cubs pitcher Charlie Root. The Yankees went on to win the game 7-5 and swept the Cubs the next day, claiming the series. This was Ruth’s last World Series and his final World Series home run.
According to Mike Provenzale, production manager for Heritage’s sports department, “When you can tie an item like that to an important figure and their most important moment, that’s what collectors are really looking for.”
This historic jersey has a unique journey. Around 1940, Babe Ruth gave it to one of his golfing buddies in Florida. It stayed with that family for decades. In the early 1990s, the man’s daughter sold it to a collector. That collector then auctioned it off in 2005 for $940,000. Now, it’s up for auction again, with experts predicting it could break records.
In 2019, another one of Babe Ruth’s road jerseys, dating from 1928-1930, was sold for $5.64 million at an auction held at Yankee Stadium. That jersey was part of a collection of Ruth’s items put up for sale by his family.
This jersey from the “called shot” game is not just a piece of clothing. It’s a symbol of one of the most memorable moments in baseball history. As it heads to auction, collectors and fans alike will be watching closely to see if it makes history again.
