There is a new leader in the clubhouse for most expensive sports memorabilia ever. Babe Ruth’s 1920 New York Yankee road baseball jersey was sold for $4,415,658. The auction was held by LeLands.com. LeLands.com specializes in sports, American memorabilia vintage photos and Rock ‘n’ Roll. It is the oldest game jersey known today. The jersey is from the first season Ruth was traded for the Red Sox to the Yankees.
Ruth was traded from Boston by the owner Harry Frazee. Mr. Frazee then turned around and spent the money to finance a Broadway play “No, No, Nanette”. Oh how the times have changed. I’m sure current Red Sox owner John Henry would be thrown off the top deck of Fenway Park for such a move. Ruth only went on to be the greatest ball player of his generation, maybe ever. The Red Sox had won 5 World Series before the trade and just 2 since. The transaction went on to be called “The Curse of the Bambino”.
Another item that was up for auction was former Yankee pitcher David Wells signed Babe Ruth baseball hat. Wells wore the hat in the first inning of a game in 1997. The hat sold for a messly $537,278.
The buyer of the jersey is not displaying it in a museum or the Hall of Fame, according to Yahoo Sports.
