(1895 - 1948) Legendary American baseball star and Hall of Famer who hit 60 home runs in 1927 and had a career total of 714. A superb item truly representative of The Bambino, his straw boater hat with ribbon, in near fine condition. The straw hat bears a lightly soiled brown and black ribbon circling it, with the interior containing a well-worn sweatband and liner indicating Ruth enjoyed this hat quite a bit! One can almost imagine him strolling the streets of Manhattan with this hat gracing his head and a cigar clamped in his teeth, signing autographs, and reveling in the adulation of his fans. This outstanding and historic item has excellent provenance: it was obtained by talk-show icon Joe Franklin, and his notarized letter of provenance accompanies the hat. It reads, in part: '...This extraordinary piece of memorabilia...was obtained PERSONALLY by me...from Ruth's widow, Claire Ruth, in 1968. Clara Mae Ruth appeared as a guest on my television show...in early 1968. A lifelong New York baseball fanatic...I was such an admirer of Babe Ruth that as a young man in 1948 I actually' camped in the hallway near the room where Ruth was being treated at French Hospital...Claire Ruth...was aware of my great admiration for her late husband...she and I had lunched together twice and became fast friends. It was I who broached the subject of obtaining a personal item of Ruth's for my Archives of Nostalgia, and Clara Ruth agreed...surprised me by bringing numerous items with her on the day of her appearance...including this--Ruth's straw boater hat. I hereby certify that the aforementioned item is the original and is 100% authentic...' Lot also includes a 4 x 6 in. photo of Franklin holding the hat. An excellent piece of memorabilia for any baseball enthusiast.