DALLAS — Nearly a century after Babe Ruth called his shot during the 1932 World Series, the jersey worn by the New York Yankees slugger when he hit the home run to center field could sell at auction for as much as $30 million.
Heritage Auctions is offering up the jersey Saturday night in Dallas.
Ruth’s famed, debated and often imitated “called shot” came as the Yankees and Chicago Cubs faced off in Game 3 of the World Series at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Oct. 1, 1932. In the fifth inning, Ruth made a pointing gesture while at bat and then hit the home run off Cubs pitcher Charlie Root.
The Yankees won the game 7-5 and swept the Cubs the next day to win the series.
That was Ruth’s last World Series, and the “called shot” was his last home run in a World Series, said Mike Provenzale, the 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,” Provenzale said.
Heritage said Ruth gave the road jersey to one of his golfing buddies in Florida around 1940 and it remained in that family for decades. Then, in the early 1990s, that man’s daughter sold it to a collector. It was then sold at auction in 2005 for $940,000, and that buyer consigned it to Heritage this year.
In 2019, one of Ruth’s road jerseys dating to 1928-30 sold for $5.64 million in an auction conducted at Yankee Stadium. That jersey was part of a collection of items that Ruth’s family had put up for sale.
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Associated Press video journalist Kendria LaFleur contributed to this report.
One of the most iconic moments in baseball history is set to make waves in the sports memorabilia world as Babe Ruth’s ‘Called Shot’ jersey is expected to fetch up to $30 million at auction. The jersey, worn by Ruth during the 1932 World Series, holds a special place in baseball lore as it is believed to be the very jersey he wore when he famously pointed towards the outfield before hitting a home run.
The ‘Called Shot’ incident occurred during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. With tensions running high between the two teams, Ruth stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning and allegedly pointed towards the center field bleachers before hitting a home run in that exact direction. While there is debate over whether Ruth actually called his shot or not, the moment has become one of the most legendary in baseball history.
The jersey itself is a piece of sports history, with its pinstripes and iconic Yankees logo making it instantly recognizable to fans around the world. It has been carefully preserved over the years and is in pristine condition, adding to its value as a collector’s item. The fact that it is linked to such a significant moment in baseball history only adds to its allure.
The auction of Babe Ruth’s ‘Called Shot’ jersey is expected to draw interest from collectors, sports enthusiasts, and historians alike. The estimated price tag of up to $30 million reflects the rarity and significance of this piece of memorabilia. It is sure to be a hotly contested item, with bidders vying for the chance to own a piece of baseball history.
For fans of the game, owning Babe Ruth’s ‘Called Shot’ jersey would be a dream come true. It represents a moment of triumph and defiance, a reminder of Ruth’s larger-than-life persona and his impact on the sport of baseball. As the auction date approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be a historic event in the world of sports memorabilia.
