Auction Item Details
Lot 300
LOADING IMAGES
Lot Number: 300
Description: Babe Ruth professional model baseball bat with attribution to exhibition use c.1936-40 (Lew Fonseca provenance). Louisville Slugger 125 model bat measures 35" long and weighs 35.4 oz. Bat shows evident use including ball marks, stitching impressions, and general barrel wear. Trademark stampings and player facsimile barrel stamp remain very bold. Faint vestiges of "Game 3" stenciling are visible on the barrel just to the right of the centerbrand area from a vintage display with Major League player Lew Fonseca's personal collection in reference to Ruth's famed "Called Shot" home run in the 1932 World Series. The offered bat originated from the personal collection of former Major League player Lew Fonseca. Fonseca was documented to have retained numerous items of quality from his twelve year playing career spanning from 1921 to 1933. Within the collection were several notable game used bats including a very fine Lou Gehrig bat and the offered Ruth specimen. The bats were obtained directly from Fonseca by Mr. Bill Stanlik and then subsequently descended within his family until the current offering. Based on Hillerich & Bradsby trademark stampings the apparent dating of this Ruth bat points to just after his Major League career ended in 1935. Based on provenance and evident usage characteristics we believe it to be highly likely to have been used by Ruth in exhibition play or quite possibly even as a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938. The lot also includes a Lew Fonseca professional model bat from the period which was obtained at the same time as the Ruth bat. Use and markings are all appropriate to the era and professional manufacture. Interesting Babe Ruth professional model bat with strong display qualities and desirable primary source provenance with likely attribution to Ruth during post career play. Includes LOA from Hunt Auctions: EXEstimated Price Range: ($5,000-$10,000)
Sold for Price: Login or Register