If you have an eight-figure sum to spare, you may be able to secure the uniform for the next New York Yankees game.
Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions announced that the Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series sold for a record $24.12 million, making it the world’s most valuable sports item sold at auction. That’s nearly double the previous record set by another Yankee-related item, a 1952 Mickey Mantle card also offered by Heritage, which changed hands in 2022 for $12.6 million.
“The strong auction participation and record price achieved clearly demonstrate that astute collectors have no doubts about what this Ruth jersey is and what it represents,” Heritage sports director Chris Ivy said in a statement. “The legend of Babe Ruth and the myth and mystery surrounding his ‘aimed shot’ are combined in this extraordinary artifact.”
Not only does the jersey date from Ruth’s penultimate World Series game, it was also worn during one of the most legendary and talked-about moments in baseball history: The jersey is prominently featured on Ruth’s long-debated “called shot” home run against the Chicago Cubs, part of a 7-5 Yankees victory en route to their fourth World Series title.
Facing a hostile Chicago crowd and dugout at Wrigley Field, Ruth broke a fifth-inning at bat to gesture. Two pitches later, the Sultan of Swat hit a game-winning solo home run to center field, giving rise to the legend that Ruth “predicted his at-bat.” Other theories claim that Ruth was simply pointing to the Cubs dugout or to pitcher Charlie Root.
Since that home run stood for nine decades, it’s no surprise that the jersey Ruth was wearing during the incident was such a coveted item. It was one of many items offered at Heritage’s Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. Also offered were valuable Yankee-related items, such as Mantle’s jersey from the 1952 and 1953 World Series and the ball that Joe DiMaggio used to hit his 2,000th career hit in 1950.
The modern Yankees will return to the site of Ruth’s targeted throw next month when they face the Cubs Sept. 6-8.
