Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig items leads Lelands Invitational Auction

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig items headline the current Lelands Invitational Auction, which is open for bidding until June 30.

The highlight of the auction is Ruth’s 1927 New York Yankees World Series Ring, which had an opening bid of $100,000. According to the item description, baseball collector Barry Harper obtained the ring directly from Ruth’s widow, Claire Ruth, in the 1970s. The ring was then brokered by Lelands in the mid-1990s to a private collector. The ring has never been auctioned or publicly sold.

The 14k gold ring with original diamond, that is slightly chipped, has “G.H. Ruth” engraved inside the ring. The engraving perfectly matches the few other original player rings from the 1927 Yankees team.

Not far behind the Ruth ring in interest is the paper contract of the sale of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees. It’s a document that details what many in sports consider to be the most important transaction in sports history.

According to the item description, the six-page document includes handwritten notes throughout, and is housed in a blue legal jacket matching that time period. The handwritten notes are believed to have been written by Byron Clarke, who is listed as the notary. The document is also signed by Jacob Ruppert and H.H. Frazee, the respective team owners.

One of only two examples known to exist of 1927 Babe Ruth “Babe Comes Home” movie poster is also available in the auction. According to the item description, the poster was discovered in the interior wall of a home that was being renovated.

The top Gehrig item in the auction is a 1939 Lou Gehrig “Luckiest Man” game used bat. According to the item description this bat has never been seen or offered before. The bat was used in Gehrig’s last season, the season his consecutive games streak ended.

The bat was originally given to a Texas boy who was invited to be the bat boy for the New York Yankees when they played the Houston Buffaloes in an exhibition game on April 2, 1939. The auction lot also includes a scrapbook of autographs that were obtained that day, as well as a newspaper article detailing the day’s events.

Next in line is a 1939 Lou Gehrig National Baseball Hall of Fame bronze plaque. According to the item description, the plaque is the only additional casting of the Hall of Fame plaque for Gehrig.

Those looking for Ruth and Gehrig signatures will want to check out the “Home Run Twins” Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig double-signed signature page. The item is PSA encapsulated and sworn as authentic.

Other showcased items include:

• 1945-48 Babe Ruth single-signed baseball originally from Charlie Sheen

• 1926-33 Babe Ruth single-signed baseball

• 1933 Babe Ruth signed photo to Philly sportswriter

• Lou Gehrig 1923-24 Hartford Senators Eastern League championship team Type I photographs

• 1976, 1977 and 1978 Topps Collection of unopened wax boxes

• A variety of graded baseball cards.

To view all the items in the auction, visit www.lelands.com.