Baseball History - The Bambino's Signed 54th Home Run Baseball from Historic 60 Home Run Season of 1927
This incredible piece is Babe Ruth's 54th homerun baseball that he hit on September 18, 1927 in the 2nd game of a double header off Chicago Hall of Fame pitcher Ted Lyons when he set the record of swatting 60 home runs in a season. Famously that record wasn't broken until Roger Maris did it by hitting 61 bombs in 1961 then again in the magical 1998 season where Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire when toe to toe the whole season and now stands at 73 when Barry Bonds had an utterly ludicrous season in 2001.
Back in history it was customary to write the specific details on the ball itself when it was caught by a lucky fan, especially if it was an important baseball. This is exactly what Buddy Radin had done when he was able to catch the baseball. Official Ban Johnson American League baseball which exhibits evident game use including soiling, surface wear, and several impact marks. The ball has been signed across the sweet spot by Babe Ruth in blue fountain pen. Additional signatures include Lou Gehrig, Ray Schalk, Jimmy Ringand a few others ranging from 2-5 out of 10. Blue ink notation to the right of the Ruth autograph "54th HR 1927" (blue ink over top of period black ink in unknown hand) denoting the history of the offered ball as having been hit by Babe Ruth for his 54th home run of the 1927 season. Additional notations on side panel in similar hand "1927 Sept 18 off Lyons Chicago" also display blue ink on top of period black ink.
The history of the baseball can be specifically traced to Buddy Radin who was in attendance of the Chicago White Sox versus New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 1927. By that point in the season, the only mysteries left for the Bronx Bombers would be how far ahead they would finish above Philadelphia and how many home runs Ruth would hit. In the second game of the double header Ruth belted Ted Lyons' pitch into the stands for his 54th home run of the season. Young Buddy Radin was the lucky fan who caught the Ruth home run ball and along with his father after the game obtained signatures of Ruth, Gehrig, and pitcher Lyons along with a few others. The 1927 season would end up being one of the most iconic in the history of the game with Ruth leading the Yankees to a World Series sweep after establishing a new single season record with 60 home runs. With only a scant few other Ruth home run baseballs from the heralded 1927 season known to exist we were not able to document a higher home run number example to have been previously discovered. Very desirable Ruth signed home run baseball from the pinnacle of the Murderer's Row era in 1927. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA for the autographs along with several notarized Radin family letters of provenance specifically corroborating its history as being Ruth's 54th home run caught by Buddy Radin. Game Used memorabilia authority MEARS was also able to authenticate the baseball as the genuine ball that was hit over the fence that day which there are only a handful of Babe Ruth homerun baseballs to have enough provenance and documentation to determine to be authentic. An impressive piece of baseball history, certain to be the centerpiece of any collection.
