BABE RUTH HAND-SIGNED BASEBALL GLOVE

Provenance and Authenticity:

This item includes a certificate of authenticity.
This vintage leather baseball glove bears a handwritten signature attributed to Babe Ruth, executed in dark ink on the outer surface of the glove. The signature is placed in a natural display area, remaining legible despite the glove's evident period use and age, and integrates organically with the object rather than appearing later-added or decorative. Babe Ruth autographs on functional baseball equipment are notably scarce, as the majority of known Ruth signatures appear on baseballs, photographs, documents, and flat paper items. The signature visible here exhibits flowing cursive movement and confident line quality consistent in appearance with authenticated Babe Ruth autograph exemplars from his later career and post-playing years. As is standard practice among major international auction houses, formal authentication by a recognized third-party authority would be required; subject to such certification, the autograph would be regarded as a genuine lifetime example.

Signature:

Babe Ruth

Description:

The glove is a period leather baseball glove, constructed in thick brown hide with visible hand-stitched seams, lace binding, and finger padding typical of early twentieth-century professional-era equipment. The leather shows pronounced wear, surface creasing, darkening, and softening consistent with extensive use, lending the glove strong historical character and authenticity. The interior padding and exterior panels remain intact, with original construction details clearly visible. The signature sits on the glove's exterior surface and remains discernible despite the natural aging of the leather, contributing to the object's visual and historical appeal rather than detracting from it.

Historical significance:

Babe Ruth stands as one of the most iconic figures in the history of sport, transcending baseball to become a symbol of American popular culture in the twentieth century. Game-associated or equipment-related memorabilia connected to Ruth carries exceptional historical weight, as it directly evokes the physical reality of early professional baseball. A signed baseball glove represents a particularly compelling category, as it unites the athlete's autograph with an object intrinsic to the act of play itself. Such pieces are far rarer than signed baseballs and occupy a highly specialized position within the upper tier of sports memorabilia collecting.

Valuation:

At international auction, authenticated Babe Ruth signatures consistently command strong prices, with signed baseballs and photographs frequently realizing high five-figure or six-figure results depending on quality and provenance. Signed equipment, particularly gloves, is significantly rarer and is evaluated with heightened sensitivity to authenticity, condition, and visual presentation. Subject to favorable third-party authentication and assuming no undisclosed restoration or alteration, a hand-signed Babe Ruth baseball glove of this nature would reasonably be expected to achieve an estimated auction value in the range of USD 75,000 to 150,000, with the final result influenced by certification, signature clarity, condition, and prevailing market demand for elite early baseball memorabilia.

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All items are sold as is and where is. Azaya Art Gallery makes no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy of written or verbal condition reports, and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The absence of a condition report does not imply that a lot is free from defects or condition issues. Please contact us at info@azayagallery.com with any questions about a lot at least 24 hours before the auction. No exchanges, no returns, and no transfers. Azaya Art Gallery, its agents, employees, and consignors make no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose and assume no liability or responsibility regarding the authenticity, genuineness, provenance, culture, source, origin, attribution, period, purpose, or measurements of any lot.