The term “Holy Grail” is often tossed about within the memorabilia business. While many items that come to the market are rare and valuable, only a select few relics possess the mystic to live up to such a label. We are proud to present one of the true “Holy Grails” of sports: a Babe Ruth game used Hillerich & Bradsby baseball bat. Any Babe Ruth game used is highly coveted, however this particular piece of lumber holds tremendous historical significance to the game of baseball itself.
With usage dating between 1918 and 1921, we consider the four-year span of this bat's production cycle, and realize that the most significant personnel change in the history of sports happened at the center of it (Ruth was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees at the conclusion of the 1919 season). Moreover, this bat was used during a critical period in baseball history in which Ruth single-handedly changed the style of the game. With the swing of this bat, Ruth transformed baseball from being a Cobb-esque game of contact hitting and finesse play to the home run fueled game of power that we know it as today. When one views the George “Babe” Ruth signature barrel stamping and its "125" detail on the center brand, there’s no denying this is a rare and sacred diamond treasure. Turned during the 1918-1921 labeling period, the lumber was made to the specifications of Ruth-ordered bats manufactured during his first contract with the Kentucky-based bat giant Hillerich & Bradsby. The "Version 1" signature is just one enticing trait consistent with models produced during that historic span.
Evidence pointing to Ruth’s clear use of this legendary lumber has been extensively researched and brought forth in the Letter of Opinion and extended Letter of Opinion from leading game used bat authority Troy Kinunen of MEARS. The bat’s length of 35.75” falls exactly within the guidelines of Ruth’s preference of the time period according to H&B factory records. The bat’s weight of 34.5 ounces is right on for a circa 1918 bat, suggesting strong evidence that this bat had likely been used by the Babe in the early part of its dating. Although legend states Ruth used the 40+ ounce bats, records illustrate he was much more conservative during this time span, favoring a 38 ounce bat. Per the designations assigned to all professional model bats by H&B, this bat is referenced in Babe Ruth's Louisville Slugger personal bat records as the R2 model. The R stood for the second player to request a new model bat whose last name ended with that initial. This bat is referenced in the factory records as His Model #1, a.k.a. small or Old Ruth round end (Model R2). The H&B records verify this as the main model being ordered until the 1924 season.
This bat is manufactured from high-grade evenly proportioned medium grain wood. The bat exhibits the classic Ruth knob found on the R2 model bat, with evidence of a hand turned knob (sans inch marks) with visible signs of rasp marks. The rasp marks are a sign of the lathe hand removing wood to reach the player desired weight. Superior game usage is found across the barrel, with the heaviest concentrated area below the barrel stampings. In the area of the barrel stamping is a very distinct ball/stitch mark. Distinct stitch marks are quite rare from this era, and the effect is associated with the impact caused by a power hitter such as Ruth. Cleats marks are scattered throughout the barrel. A 2.5" x 10" area has been sanded where side writing once was placed. In that area, now writing is currently visible. The date of 6-14-24 can be read. The overall use is heavy, and concentrated throughout the entire area/surface of the entire bat. Additionally, in the area left of the barrel signature is the sign of where a return label was placed. This was applied when the bat was shipped back to the H&B factory.
With a Babe Ruth bat standing as one of the three pieces of sports memorabilia to date to cross the million-dollar threshold at auction, it is clear that this market is on the rise. While the pleasure of owning a Ruth gamer is surely its own reward, one can't overlook the investment potential here. Few collectibles in any genre have seen the sharp and steady upward value surge of Ruth game used material, and there's no sign that this will change any time soon. This sculpted wood represents one of the most desirable artifacts in the sports collecting hobby. The ownership of a Babe Ruth game used bat sets the elite collector apart from the masses, and makes him curator of a piece of true Americana.