New Delhi: US baseball legend Babe Ruth continues to rule the sporting world posthumously as well. A “special” jersey belonging to Ruth shattered the record for the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever auctioned, selling for a record $24.1 million (Rs. 2,02,26,54,960) in New York on Sunday. George Herman Ruth, better known as “Babe” Ruth, is etched in every baseball fan’s memory for his epic “called out shot”.
The online auction lasted several weeks as many interested people placed their bids for the New York Yankee’s jersey which ultimately dwarfed the previous record – $12.6 million paid in August 2022 for a 1952 Topps baseball card featuring New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle. No other piece of sports memorabilia had ever broken the elusive $10-million mark until 2022, but the year saw the soaring bid of Mantle’s card and a jersey worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan which blew past the threshold.
Director of sports auctions at Heritage Auctions, Chris Ivy called it “the most significant piece of American sports memorabilia ever offered at auction” adding that “if this was a piece of art, this would be like buying the Mona Lisa.”
After touring the country, including a return to Wrigley Field, and six plus hours in extended bidding tonight, Babe Ruth’s ‘Called Shot’ Jersey closes at $24.12 Million to become the world’s most valuable piece of sports memorabilia pic.twitter.com/EuHKB3KicP
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) August 25, 2024
Know about the ‘called shot’
Ruth, also known by his moniker “The Bambino” wore the legendary jersey during Game Three of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. It is known that Ruth was being heckled by the opposition and he reportedly hit back at them by pointing deep into the center-field stands, before bludgeoning the next pitch by Cubs’ Charlie Root exactly in that direction for a home run. The incident took place in the fifth inning of the game which was played at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on October 1, 1932.
A coloured illustration of Babe Ruth calling his shot in the fifth inning of the third game in 1932 World Series, He then proceeded to hit a homerun where he pointed his bat. (Photo – Getty Images)
One of the reporters at the game wrote that Ruth “called his shot” and the incident added to Ruth’s crazy stardom and also became a signature event of the golden age of baseball. The film of the event confirms Ruth making a pointing gesture but the intent of it still remains unknown. While some guess he was indeed promising a home run, some say it’s a mere gesture at fans or the Cubs in their dugout.
The New York Yankees went on to win the game 7-5 and the World Series 4-0 which was the final championship win of Ruth’s career and a final home run in a World Series. Years after he retired, he donated the jersey to a golf partner. It was later sold three times, most recently in 2005 for $940,000. Ruth is widely regarded as the best baseball player of all time, winning the World Series seven times. He called time on his career in 1935 and died in 1948 aged 53.
The notorious ‘called shot’ jersey of baseball legendary Babe Ruth has shattered all the auction records of sports memorabilia, fetching an astounding $24.1 million in New York on Sunday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
