The jersey worn by Babe Ruth when he called his shot during the 1932 World Series has been sold at auction for over $24 million. The New York Yankee slugger hit a home run to center field in that iconic moment, and the jersey broke records with its sale price of $24.12 million after a six-hour bidding war in Dallas. The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous, said Heritage Auctions, who described the jersey as “the most significant piece of American sports memorabilia ever offered at auction.” The sale price surpassed the $12.6 million achieved by Mickey Mantle’s 1952 rookie card in 2022, making it a highly coveted item among collectors.
The moment when Babe Ruth made his “called shot” during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs is considered one of the most dramatic in baseball history. Ruth famously pointed towards center field before hitting the home run off Cubs pitcher Charlie Root. The game ended with a 7-5 victory for the Yankees, who went on to sweep the Cubs the next day and win the series. The “called shot” was Ruth’s last home run in a World Series, marking a memorable end to his championship career. Collectors and historians alike view this jersey as a rare and important artifact from a pivotal moment in baseball history.
The jersey was originally given by Babe Ruth to one of his golfing buddies in Florida around 1940 and remained in that family for several decades. It was later sold to a collector in the early 1990s and then auctioned in 2005 for $940,000 before coming to Heritage Auctions this year. There has been ongoing debate over whether Ruth actually called his shot, but experts point to home movie footage of the game showing Ruth making a pointing gesture. Regardless of the debate, Ruth’s prediction and homerun have become legendary in baseball history, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s greatest figures.
Michael Gibbons, director emeritus and historian at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, emphasized the significance of Ruth’s “called shot,” calling it a pivotal moment in World Series and baseball history. The footage of Ruth rounding the bases after the homerun and gesturing towards the Cubs bench has become iconic, with many believing that Ruth did indeed call his shot. Gibbons highlighted Ruth’s positive impact on the game and his status as a standard-bearer for Major League Baseball, making this jersey a highly sought-after item for collectors. The auction and sale of the jersey further solidify Ruth’s legacy and the enduring fascination with his remarkable career.
The sale of Babe Ruth’s jersey sets a new standard for sports memorabilia, breaking records with its staggering price tag of over $24 million. The significance of the jersey, worn during Ruth’s famous “called shot” in the 1932 World Series, reflects the enduring appeal of baseball history and its iconic figures. The auctioned jersey’s journey from Ruth’s possession to a golfing buddy in Florida, then through several collectors before reaching Heritage Auctions, adds layers of provenance and mystique to the item. As one of the most iconic moments in baseball history, Ruth’s called shot continues to captivate fans and collectors, solidifying his status as a legend in the sport.
