Auctions
Mickey Mantle jersey, Babe Ruth bat headline historic baseball memorabilia at Louisville Slugger auction
Hunt Auctions is hosting the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory live auction for the 22nd year and, as usual, the longtime auction house has uncovered some historic vintage treasures for this year’s event.
The auction, which features over 700 lots of historic baseball memorabilia, will be held on Nov. 15.
This year’s auction is headlined by a photo-matched 1953 Mickey Mantle New York Yankees road jersey and a Babe Ruth professional model baseball bat, circa 1920-22.
“Each year as the MLB baseball season draws to a close, we look forward to travelling to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory for our annual live auction,” Hunt Auctions President David Hunt said. “For the 22nd year we are honored to present an outstanding assemblage of historic baseball artifacts within the very location where many of them were originally manufactured. This particular group of auction materials is especially notable to include a significant Mickey Mantle game jersey and fresh to the market Babe Ruth professional model bat.”
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The Mantle jersey dates to the 1953 season and is one of the earliest of its type from the limited surviving population. The grey flannel shirt is autographed and photo-matched to several images dating to early 1954 and ’55. While inconclusive, the shirt may have been worn by Mantle during the 1953 World Series, according to Hunt Auctions. The jersey includes photo matches from Resolution Photomatching and Sports Investors along with a LOA from SGC/Dave Grob. The pre-sale estimate is $1-2 million.
The “Buckeye State” Babe Ruth professional model bat dates to the 1920-22 period, when he first joined the Yankees after being sold by the Boston Red Sox. The bat was recently discovered within the family of former Ohio State Athletic Director Richard C. Larkins.
According to Hunt, Ruth bats from this era are highly coveted by collectors due to their impressive 40-ounce weight specifications. The bat also features a unique corked barrel not previously encountered on Ruth game bats. According to Hunt, Hillerich & Bradsby factory records show that Ruth may have been experimenting with the weights of his bats and had the barrel treated with a corking process to lower the overall weight to an “adjusted” 40.4 ounces.
The bat is being offered for the first time publicly and retains a period shipping label addressed to Larkin. The estimated sale price ranges from $400,000-$600,000.
The auction also features the Jim Kaat Collection of items from the personal collection of the Hall of Fame pitcher.
“I have enjoyed my items for the past 40 years during my baseball career and appreciate the fans who supported me throughout,” Kaat said through Hunt Auctions. “I can only hope that someone will enjoy them as much as I did. They represent a lot of time and effort that went into my career of which I am very proud.”
Highlights from the collection include:
• 1961 Minnesota Twins professional model home jersey.
• 1982 St. Lous Cardinals World Series trophy.
• Gold Glove awards from 1962-1977.
• Game-used glove, circa 1966-82.
Also featured is Part II of the Dr. G.B. Espy Collection from the noted doctor, humanitarian and sports collector.
Historic items include:
• Marilyn Monroe single-signed baseball.
• Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig autographed baseball, circa 1928.
• 1927 Lou Gehrig autographed New York Yankees payroll check (PSA/DNA NM).
• Lou Gehrig autographed photograph (PSA/DNA 8 NM-MT).
• Babe Ruth single-signed baseball (PSA/DNA 8 NM-MT).
• Marilyn Monroe autographed photograph (PSA/DNA 8 NM-MT).
Other auction highlights include:
• Ted Williams Boston Red Sox professional model home jersey, circa 1950s.
• 500 Home Run Club autographed baseball with Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx.
• Pete Rose 4,000th career hit baseball.
• 1915 “Shoeless” Joe Jackson Cleveland Naps player contract.
• Mickey Mantle New York Yankees professional model hat, circa 1951-63.
• 1903 World Series Game #3 ticket stub.
• Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris New York Yankees professional model batting helmets, circa 1963-65.
• Roberto Clemente single-signed baseball (PSA/DNA 9 MINT).
• Honus Wagner single-signed baseball (PSA/DNA 7 NM).
• Roberto Clemente professional model baseball bat, circa 1965-68 (PSA/DNA GU 9.5).
The live auction will take place at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10:30 a.m. Auction previews and a free appraisal fair will take place on Thursday and Friday during museum hours. The 2025 Louisville Slugger Living Legend award will be presented to George Brett on Thursday evening.
