Goldin Auctions Planning Mega Event for Babe Ruth Debut Anniversary

The calendar hasn't turned to 2014 yet, but there is an event already to mark on the schedule for next year. Goldin Auctions is conducting the Babe Ruth Centennial Auction in July, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ruth's MLB debut with high-end pieces like a rookie-era game-used bat and a 1914 Baltimore News rookie card.

Author:
Tom Bartsch
Publish date:
Dec 19, 2013

On July 11, 1914, the greatest player in baseball history, Babe Ruth, played his first Major League Baseball game and baseball was forever changed. Exactly 100 years later, Goldin Auctions, the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and Steiner Sports will also make history when they hold the largest auction of Babe Ruth memorabilia – the Goldin Auctions Babe Ruth Centennial Auction.

The Goldin Auctions Babe Ruth Centennial Auction will be open to bidders in an online auction at www.GoldinAuctions.com, culminating with a Live Auction format on July 12 at the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum & Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The live auction, which will also be webcast at GoldinAuctions.com for bidders unable to attend the live auction, will be preceded by a special preview night at the museum for registered bidders on July 11. Appropriately, the Yankees will be in Baltimore to face the Orioles that weekend.

"As a player, Babe Ruth was in a class by himself and appropriately his influence on the sports collectibles industry is unmatched," explains Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions. "The Babe did everything big, so it's appropriate to celebrate him with the biggest sports memorabilia auction ever. We're excited to partner with the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards and Steiner Sports to bring these great Babe Ruth treasures to auction."

The New York Yankees memorabilia partner, Steiner Sports, will aid in the marketing and promotion of the event and provide a wide selection of unique items including collectibles from Yankee Stadium, game-used Yankee memorabilia, plus high-end collectibles and unique fan experiences.

"Babe Ruth was a larger than life icon and had countless magical moments which took place on Yankee Stadium soil. We are pleased to be a part of this historic event with Goldin Auctions and the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum" stated Brandon Steiner, president of Steiner Sports.

The Goldin Auctions Babe Ruth Centennial Auction will include up to 200 super-premium items in a Live Auction, plus more than 1,500 items for sale exclusively online. Many of the key items in the auction, including many of Ruth's personal effects will be available for viewing at both the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards leading up to the auction. Some of the high-value Live Auction items already consigned include:

1916 Babe Ruth rookie era game used bat (PSA GU-9) This recently discovered bat, which has been in the possession of the original owner's family in Massachusetts for 97 years, is one of the three earliest known Ruth bats to be graded and authenticated, and the highest graded of the three.
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card Although not as famous as The T206 Wagner, this card may be just as rare and valuable. In fact, a recent version graded PSA 1 sold for more than a comparably graded Wagner. It is clearly the most valuable Ruth card in existence.
1932 Babe Ruth game used bat (PSA GU-10) with New York Yankees provenance and letter from the Yankees.
1920s Babe Ruth game-used and autographed bat.

"We are pleased to be working with Goldin Auctions on this historic occasion. We are excited that all the patrons of our museum will be able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth's major league debut with us throughout 2014 with new additions of historic memorabilia on display," added John Hein, director of Business Development Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards.

Babe Ruth Roadshow
The Goldin Auctions Babe Ruth Roadshow will begin in January, as memorabilia experts from Goldin Auctions, accompanied by a television production crew, will canvass the country to find vintage Ruth artifacts. Highlights from the Roadshow will be featured in a television special in advance of the auction, and potentially a documentary series. The Roadshow will make stops in New York, Boston, California and Baltimore, plus multiple Midwest cities. The Roadshow schedule will be available in January at GoldinAuctions.com plus their social sites on Facebook and Twitter. The production will be handled by Silent Crow Arts.

Although the Ruth items are the centerpieces of the historic auction, collectors will also have the opportunity to bid upon items from other legendary Yankees players such as Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. Several spectacular items from thes e legendary Yankees have already been consigned including: a DiMaggio 1941 game-used bat from the season of his 56-game hitting streak, MVP and World Series championship; a Mantle 1966 game-used and signed fielder's glove, which is the last glove he wore as a center fielder; Mantle's 1960 player's contract; a 1951 Mantle rookie game-used and signed bat; plus a matched pair of Yogi Berra game-used catcher's mitt and mask.