A remarkable piece of sports memorabilia is set to take center stage at Heritage Auctions: a Spalding baseball glove from 1916, signed twice by none other than the legendary Babe Ruth. This glove, with its strong connection to Ruth’s time with the Boston Red Sox during the 1916 World Series, is highly anticipated among collectors, and experts predict that its final auction price will exceed the million-dollar mark, reflecting both its historical significance and rarity.
The journey of this glove to the auction block is as intriguing as its former owner, Joe E. Brown. Brown, an entertainment icon of the 1930s known for his acting, comedy, and sports broadcasting, was also an avid collector of sports memorabilia. The glove, now part of his extensive collection, is a true relic of a bygone era. While Brown’s name may have faded from public memory, his legacy lives on through this remarkable item and others that he cherished.
What makes this particular glove so special are the dual signatures of Babe Ruth. The first signature dates back to 1916, when Ruth, along with his teammates, secured a World Series victory for the Red Sox against the Brooklyn Robins. The second signature, accompanied by Ruth’s handwritten note declaring it as the “Glove I used in the 1916 World Series,” was added years later, serving as a testament to the glove’s role in Ruth’s early career. Not only does the glove feature Ruth’s autographs, but it also boasts the signatures of Harry Hooper, Duffy Lewis, Larry Gardner, and Tillie Walker, further solidifying its status as a cherished piece of baseball history.
The bidding for the glove has already surpassed $300,000 within the first day of the auction, indicating strong interest from collectors worldwide. Heritage Auctions is optimistic that the final hammer price will reach or even exceed the $1 million mark. This auction follows the recent sale of another Ruth-related item, a glove gifted to Jimmy Austin, which fetched an impressive $1.5 million, establishing the high market value of authentic Ruth memorabilia.
The legitimacy of the signatures has been confirmed through authentication by Beckett and PSA/DNA. Steve Grad of Beckett, who conducted the examination, described it as “the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” This authentication provides potential bidders with the assurance they need regarding the authenticity of Ruth’s signatures and the historical significance of the glove.
Despite being devastated by fire in the past, Joe E. Brown’s collection continues to make a lasting impression on the world of sports memorabilia through items like this glove. The upcoming auction not only presents a unique opportunity for collectors to obtain a piece of baseball history but also pays tribute to the enduring legacy of Babe Ruth and Joe E. Brown’s passionate collecting. As the auction date draws near, excitement and anticipation for this historic sale continue to grow, ensuring that it will be remembered for years to come.