A jersey worn by New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth during his iconic “called shot” in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series is set to hit the auction block later this month, with estimates suggesting it could fetch upwards of $30 million.
Babe Ruth’s historic “called shot” jersey goes to auction next week
The jersey, last sold in 2005 for $940,000, is expected to shatter records for sports collectibles. The upcoming auction, organized by Heritage Auctions, is slated for August 23-25. According to Chris Ivy, Heritage Auctions’ director of sports auctions, the Ruth jersey is “the most significant sports collectible that’s ever come up for auction.”
The jersey’s authenticity has been confirmed by MeiGray Authenticated, a leading firm in sports memorabilia verification. Jim Montague, MeiGray’s vice president of authentication, highlighted unique details in the stitching and design that were matched to photographs from the 1932 World Series, making this piece a one-of-a-kind item.
Babe Ruth‘s “called shot” remains one of baseball’s most debated moments. In the fifth inning of Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs, Ruth allegedly pointed to the outfield before smashing a home run. While the exact intention behind his gesture is still questioned, the moment has become legendary.
The current record for a sports collectible is the $12.6 million spent on a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in 2022. This Babe Ruth jersey is poised to set a new benchmark, with bidding starting at $7.5 million. According to ESPN, Heritage Auctions plans to showcase the jersey at various locations, including the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, before the auction.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Has the jersey been washed? If not, maybe the Babe’s DNA can be extracted to clone a Baby Babe!
Given the size of contracts today & what they’ll likely be in 20+ years, $30MM could be a steal to clone another Babe!
Look into that, Hal. Your grandchildren heirs will thank you, assuming Cashman isn’t around to trade “Babe II” for Caleb Ferguson’s grandson.