Bats from Shoeless Joe and the Babe headline live

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Hunt Auctions and Hillerich & Bradsby have teamed up once again for a unique live, phone and Internet auction at the famed batmaker’s headquarters in Louisville, Ky., that will feature a “Shoeless Joe” Jackson signed bat atop a roster that also includes a huge array of game-used and pro-model bats, jerseys from the likes of Willie Mays and Henry Aaron and even a complete Turkey Red cabinet set.

The auction gets underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Louisville Slugger Museum marks the second consecutive year that Hunt Auctions and Hillerich & Bradsby have aligned for a spectacular live event that also includes a two-day preview during regular museum hours on Nov. 10-11 (plus 8-10 a.m. on Saturday prior to the start of the auction), and a complimentary appraisal fair and exhibit of Ruth historical items.

Hunt Auctions’ experts will conduct the appraisals for museum visitors, with select items eligible for consignment to Saturday’s auction. Last year, a Ruth and Lou Gehrig autographed barnstorming photo turned up at the appraisal fair and sold as a late addition to the auction for $31,900.

Purchased by Hunt Auctions, Inc. for $771,096 on behalf of a private collector, Ruth’s recently discovered 1934 Tour of Japan uniform will be on display for the first time publicly in more than 70 years. The jersey had been worn by Ruth on the famed 1934 All-Star Tour of Japan and the Pacific just before the beginning of World War II. “The Babe Ruth uniform is the finest 1934 Tour of Japan item to have entered the marketplace,” said Hunt Auctions President David Hunt.

In addition to showcasing the uniform, Hunt Auctions will reportedly also unveil a previously undiscovered and historically significant Ruth artifact which will be available for auction at a 2006 Hunt Auctions live event.

Live Auction Highlights: “Shoeless Joe” Jackson autographed bat circa 1920s ($50,000-$75,000 pre-auction estimate); Ruth professional model bat circa 1925-29 ($50,000-$75,000); an Addie Joss Day (July 24, 1911) All-Star benefit team photograph by Louis Van Oeyen ($50,000-$75,000); 1958 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants home jersey ($40,000-$60,000); 1973 Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves road jersey ($15,000-$25,000); Harridge AL ball signed by Ruth, Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle ($20,000-$30,000); and 1911 T3 Turkey Red baseball cabinet card set ($20,000-$30,000).

In what has become one of the year’s most anticipated offerings of game-used bats, the sale will include more than 50 professional model examples, including: Joe DiMaggio circa 1943-49 ($15,000-$20,000); Ted Williams circa 1950-60 ($15,000-$20,000); Roy Campanella circa 1956 ($15,000-$20,000); Honus Wagner circa 1921-31 ($10,000-$15,000); Tris Speaker circa 1921-31 ($7,500-$10,000); Rogers Hornsby circa 1927 ($7,500-$10,000); Hack Wilson circa 1921-31 ($5,000-$7,500); Roberto Clemente circa 1965-68 ($4,500-$6,500); Earl Averill circa 1934-35 ($4,000-$5,000); Ernie Banks circa 1950-60 ($3,500-$4,500); Richie Ashburn circa 1950-60 ($3,000-$4,000); Pete Rose circa 1969-72 ($3,000-$4,000); Buck Weaver circa 1932 ($3,000-$4,000); Paul Waner circa 1933 ($3,000-$4,000); and Eddie Mathews circa 1961-64 ($3,000-$4,000).

Signed Baseballs: Ruth and Gehrig signed baseball with direct provenance circa 1928 ($25,000-$35,000), Ruth and Dazzy Vance ($7,500-$10,000); single-signed Honus Wagner ($3,500-$4,500); Ty Cobb ($3,000-$4,000), and Lefty Grove ($2,000-$3,000), 1918 Boston Red Sox team-signed ball attributed to the 1918 World Series ($20,000-$30,000), 1928 New York Yankees ($7,500-$10,000), 1929 New York Yankees ($4,000-$6,000), 1934 New York Yankees ($3,000-$4,000), and 1934 Tour of Japan team-signed baseball lighter ($10,000-$15,000).

Photographs: Ruth-signed, large-format photograph from the Hillerich & Bradsby Co. archives circa 1930-40s ($15,000-$20,000); Ruth Red Sox large-format photograph circa 1916 ($5,000-$7,500); 25th Infantry African American baseball team photograph with scarce Bullet Rogan autograph on the reverse circa 1919-20 ($5,000-$7,500); 1916 Chicago White Sox team panoramic photograph ($7,500-$10,000); 1896 Pittsburgh Pirates team cabinet photograph ($7,500-$10,000); 1910 Chicago Cubs “Yard of the National Game” panoramic photograph ($3,500-$4,500); 1927 Cubs team panoramic photograph ($2,500-$3,500); and a 1912 New York Giants team panoramic photograph with related game-used ball ($2,000-$3,000).

Tobacco-related Items: Hans Wagner “King of the Diamond” baseball decorative cigar box circa 1905-10 ($5,000-$7,500); “Keystone Mixture” baseball decorated tobacco bucket circa 1880s ($4,000-$5,000); and a Lorillard tobacco display cabinet circa 1880-1900 ($3,500-$4,500).

The auction also features a premium estate collection of more than 75 lots, including: 1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank ($10,000-$15,000); 1909-11 T206 Sherry Magie error card ($5,000-$7,500); 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson ($7,500-$12,500); 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb ($4,000-$5,000); 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie No. 106 ($7,500-$10,000); 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth No. 53 ($4,000-$5,000); 1888 Yum Yum Tobacco N403 Mickey Welch ($7,500-$10,000); 1888 Goodwin Champions N162 baseball tobacco card complete set ($5,000-$7,500); and an 1887 Allen & Ginter N28 baseball tobacco card set ($5,000-$7,500).

Folk Art, Advertising, and Games: Spalding baseball bat display rack circa 1910-15 ($6,500-$8,500); presentational baseball bat and trophy ball circa 1870s ($5,000-$7,500); folk art baseball children’s sled circa 1888 ($2,500-$3,500); Mission oak rocking chair with baseball decoration circa 1910 ($2,750-$3,500); folk art baseball scoreboard circa 1900-20 ($2,000-$3,000); baseball decorated occupational shaving mug circa 1890-1900 ($1,500-$2,000); Utica Base Ball Club folk art decorative walking cane ($1,500-$2,000), Ruth and Cobb signed Louisville Slugger advertisement circa 1940s ($4,000-$6,000); D&M baseball equipment advertising display sign circa 1910-15 ($3,500-$4,500); and baseball Centennial pinball arcade machine circa 1939 ($3,000-$4,000).

The entire Live Auction catalog can be viewed online at www.huntauctions.com. Bids and catalog orders may be placed through the Web site or by calling (610) 524-0822.