A baseball jersey worn by the legendary Babe Ruth during the 1932 World Series has shattered auction records, selling for an unprecedented $24.12 million. This sale, conducted by Heritage Auctions, nearly doubles the previous record of $12.6 million set by a Mickey Mantle baseball card in 2022.The jersey’s extraordinary value is tied to its historical significance, particularly its association with Ruth’s famous ‘called shot’ during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. According to legend, Ruth pointed to the center field stands before hitting a home run in that direction, though the exact nature of this gesture remains a subject of debate.Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, emphasized the item’s cultural importance, stating, ‘This is the Mona Lisa. It’s a very mythical moment that not only goes through baseball history, but also American history and pop culture’. The jersey’s provenance has been meticulously authenticated, with experts using photo-matching techniques to verify its use in the historic game.This sale marks a significant milestone in the sports memorabilia market. Until 2022, no sports item had ever surpassed the $10 million mark at auction. The rapid appreciation of the Ruth jersey is notable; it last sold in 2005 for $940,000.The burgeoning market for sports collectibles reflects both their historical value and their potential as investment opportunities. As reported by Sportico, collectors increasingly view such items as alternative assets. This trend is further exemplified by recent high-profile sales, including a Michael Jordan jersey for $10.1 million and Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ jersey for $9.3 million.While this sale has captured headlines, it’s worth noting that current players continue to make history. On the same day as the auction, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 50th and 51st home runs of the season, joining an elite group of players with three 50-homer seasons in their careers.
Key points
- Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series jersey sold for a record-breaking $24.
- The jersey is associated with Ruth’s famous ‘called shot’ against the Chicago Cubs.
- This sale marks a significant milestone in the sports memorabilia market, reflecting growing interest in sports collectibles as historical artifacts and investments.
12 million at auction.
