Babe Ruth 1934 H&B Game Used Bat Used to Hit HR #702 1 of 3 Documented Examples of Specific Ruth HR Used Bat Start Price USD 199,999.99 Current Price USD 199,999.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, October 10, 2008 End Time Friday, October 17, 2008 Location North Little Rock, Arkansas See more about 'Babe Ruth 1934 H&B Game Used Bat Used to Hit HR #702' Description Historic Babe Ruth 1934 H&B Game Used Bat - Used to Hit His 702nd Home Run and Signed by Ruth, Gehrig, and 16 Other Yankee Teammates An autograph, a handshake--even and affirmative nod and his customary wink. Such were the lavish "gifts" bestowed by New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth throughout baseball's 1920s renaissance (a revival for which Ruth is solely credited) and during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the latter period one that dimmed hopes and spirits everywhere--save for gatherings at which Ruth was present. Ever compliant with such request, Ruth was rarely, if ever, known to begrudge and autograph seeker. Ruth was equally dependable in his ability to launch tape-measure clouts--seemingly at will. His accessibility and skill the common fare during his unparalleled career, Ruth's attributes are solely missed now, three-quarters of a century later--where the game and its players bear no resemblance to those of Ruth's era. So as the game has expanded to include nearly twice the amount of teams and, subsequently, statistics and "leaders" that are deemed far less impressive as they once were, all-too-scarce keepsakes associated with Ruth are, for good reason, valued and cherished at an increasing level. Up for auction, the offered treasure exceeds perhaps any keepsake extant in terms of historical significance, and, resultantly, inherent value. Presented in this auction is the actual game-wielded war club with which Babe Ruth walloped his 702nd career round-tripper. Decidedly alluring on the strength of that characteristic, alone, this high grade ash carries additional appeal in that it was signed by Ruth and 15 of his Yankee teammates--either during that July 22, 1934 contest or between games of that afternoon's twinbill. Supporting the aforementioned, absolutely, impeccable provenance accompanies, thus rendering this artifact a true diamond masterpiece. Befriended (and idolized) by his every acquaintance (save for the likes of Ty Cobb) prior to and long after he claimed virtual "ownership" of the home run, Ruth remained steadfast in his habits, his work ethic, his demeanor and most importantly, in his ability. As for the latter, consider: during a ten-year stretch from 1919 through 1928--during which he established a new single-season home run standard four separate times (eclipsing his own longball mark in three of those seasons)--Ruth single-handedly out-homered each and every opponent's entire roster. While Ruth's progress was unequivocally steady, its product was borderline frightening. The Junior Circuit's home run champion twelve times during the fourteen-year stretch from 1918 through 1931, Ruth's title was repeatedly prefaced with "Undisputed" (with the exceptions of the first and final years, as he finished tied with Tilly Walker and Lou Gehrig, respectively). It was hardly akin to recent powers surges in which balls are reaching the seats on a league-wide basis. No, in a freakish exhibition, Ruth, alone, was driving the ball high and deep into the afternoon skies, while his peers could only marvel. In securing nine of those 12 titles, Ruth out-distanced the runner-up by double-digit totals. On five occasions, he more than doubled the second-place slugger. Impressive in longball "failures" (for lack of a better term), as well, Ruth was a legitimate candidate during the two seasons (1922 and 1925) that interrupted what would have been a perfect 14-year skein. Suspended by Commissioner Landis (for ignoring the czar's ban on barnstorming) for the first six weeks of the 1922 campaign, Ruth hit 35 homers in 110 games to finish just four off the pace of the league leader. Felled by the infamous "Bellyache Heard 'round the World" in 1925, Ruth was limited to just 98 games and finished second in home runs (25) to teammate Bob Meusel (33). The first to reach lifetime home run totals of 200 (1923), 300 (1925), 400 (1927), 500 (1929), and 600 (1931), Ruth left each and every opponent, scribe and baseball enthusiast speechless, as those significant milestones grew more unfathomable with their progression. As he toppled 300 and beyond, no other player had reached half of Ruth's total. Number 700 would be no exception. While Ruth surpassed the aforementioned "century" marks a two-year intervals, the wait between blasts number 600 and 700 was three calendar years. Aged--but still a force, nonetheless--Ruth set out for a mile post that some 74 years later, only two others have managed to reach. As the 1934 campaign unfolded, it was apparent that Ruth, 39, was feeling the effects of 20 previous seasons of baseball--along with those of his unsuppressed appetites for women, drink, and merriment that had accompanied the journey for its duration. A month into the '34 season, Ruth was sidelined with a cold. In June, he was hit on the wrist by a pitch and proceeded to endure a 0-for-21 skid during which he hit but five balls out of the infield. Shortly after that year's All-Star Game (at which Ruth was one of five straight Hall of Famers to fan against the offering of Carl Hubbell), Ruth was struck on the leg by a Lou Gehrig line drive. Awaiting an ambulance in the Yankee clubhouse, Ruth lamented: "I shouldn't have been playing today. I was going to rest, and I changed my mind and decided to play today and rest tomorrow. It's like fate. Damn! I'm going to get out of this game before I'm carried out." Dreaded by a nation, the inevitable was announced--not formally, but made clear, nonetheless--shortly thereafter. After launching career round-tripper No. 700 (a 480-foot "Ruthian" drive) off of Detroit's Tommy Bridges on July 13, 1934, Ruth admitted: "I'm definitely through as a regular player after this season." Prodded by a writer about the possibly of adhering to Ruppert's suggestion of remaining in a reserve role, Ruth retorted: "I don't want to be a pinch hitter. You get a chance to bat maybe once every seven days. It's one thing I don't intend to do." And so it was, en route to 22 home runs and 84 RBI--numbers that were unheard of back when Ruppert had assumed control of the Yankees--Ruth was suddenly regarded as a superfluous element to an already formidable lineup. Five days later, Ruth was felled by yet another of his now all-too-frequent injuries. After sitting out for three days, Ruth returned to the lineup on July 22 for the first game of a doubleheader at Chicago's Comiskey Park. With the offered weapon in his capable hands, Ruth touched ChiSox starter and Hall of Famer Ted Lyons for a home run, the 702nd of his illustrious career. A now expendable component of the well-oiled machine that was the Bronx Bombers, Ruth still transcended all, the sight of his twisted, rotund torso just one of many traits that, in sum, gave this Baltimore orphan deity-like status the globe over. On hand that afternoon at Chicago’s South Side venue, one Albert V. Ott (an Equitable Life Insurance salesman with the New York Yankees on his list of clients) was the original recipient of this diamond memento—a prize with a value of epic proportions. A Long Island, New York resident and friend of skipper Joe McCarthy, Ott was familiar with McCarthy’s charges on a first-name basis and, as a reflection of that closeness, was awarded the offered prize between games of that day’s double header. (As a close friend of McCarthy, perhaps Ott was privy to knowledge that Ruth was going to sit during the nightcap—and perhaps made a hasty retreat after receiving this autographed bat.) With Ruthian dimensions of 35 inches and 37 ounces, the offered bat was turned to the specifications of the “R43” model, examples of which Ruth began ordering in August, 1933. In describing this gamer’s every last attribute, one notes perfection from start to finish, beginning with the incredibly well-defined centerbrand and barrel stampings—all of which are as strong as possible and perfect for bats of 1934, specifically. Furthermore, there is no checking, cracking or chipping of any kind—not even a hint of grain swelling—all of which are almost foregone conclusions on a bat from this glorious juncture on the grand game’s timeline. The telling evidence of game use is concentrated on the left hand hitting surface with the label facing down, as is documented custom on Ruth games. Ball marks are present on the left hand side of the barrel (if holding the centerbrand up). Additionally, an obvious stitch mark is present in that same vicinity. The fact that the hitting zone is on the left had side of the barrel is paramount to the bat’s authenticity in that Ruth held his bats with the centerbrand down, not up (the latter style is commonly taught). This is the last model and style used by Ruth as a Yankee. Honoring Ott’s request—or quite possibly, taking the initiative to award their insurance agent with this battle-tested relic—Ruth and his comrades signed the barrel. The black ink pennings have faded over time, but still resonate “4-6” strength (with some lesser, as noted), nonetheless. The scriptings include: Babe Ruth (“5-6” with light pressure on the upper portion of the “R” one factor preventing higher assessment), Ben Chapman, Earle Combs, Frank Crosetti, Bill Dickey, Lou Gehrig (“3), Lefty Gomez (“2-3”), Tony Lazzeri (“2”), Chas Ruffing, Joe Sewell (coach), Russ Van Atta “(2”), and Dixie Walker. Added shortly thereafter, the pennings of former Yankees Jimmy Burke (coach, “1-2”), Eddie Farrell, and Herb Pennock appear—as does the signature of former National League hurler Cy Moore. From Ruth’s hands to its current residence on the auction block, this precious hardball treasure has been accounted for throughout its 74-year timeline—with iron-clad provenance attesting to its every passage. Some eleven years following his acquisition, Ott awarded this very bat (along with I, and autographed ball from that same occasion) to his nephew, Jon Flamming, in South Dakota. Headline news (quite literally) in Flamming’s rustic surroundings, the bat and its origins was documented in detail in the October 4, 1945 edition of the Tyndall Tribune and Register (of which two photocopies accompany). Preserved with the utmost diligence by Flamming, the Ruth-brandished treasure remained in family hands until 2002, when it was released into the hobby. Impeccable provenance accompanies in the form of an LOA signed by Flamming’s wife. When comparing game used weapons within the hobby, for obvious reasons, home run bats are the best of the best. In recounting the history, qualities and lineage of this particular hitting tool, it possesses inherent appeal as a Ruth game, but transcends even that rank. One of only three fully documented Ruth gamers linked to a specific home run, the offered bat qualifies with the 1923 example with which Ruth hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium, and with the 1924 gamer that launched Ruth’s first round-tripper of that campaign. The former bat sold for $1.4 million and the latter but remains privately owned. As independent bat experts have conveyed in accompanying LOAs, this is among the finest and historically significant items one could hope to behold. Graded GU-10 by John Taube, LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA, Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/PSA DNA and James Spence Authentication. LOA from Dave Bushing. Place a Bid!