An unprecedented sum of $24.1 million was set as the new price for a distinguished sports jersey.
In the 1930s, Babe Ruth was the epitome of baseball stardom, and recently, one of his jerseys went under the hammer for an astronomical sum of $24.1 million, smashing the previous record at auction. The boss of the auction house likened the jersey to the Mona Lisa.
The renowned New York Yankees jersey was sold during an online auction, Heritage Auctions confirmed. Now, it holds the title of the most expensive sports memorabilia item in the world. The previous record was set in 2022 when a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card fetched $12.6 million.
Ruth donned the jersey during a legendary 1932 World Series match against the Chicago Cubs. It's said that he indicated where he was about to hit the ball before smashing a home run, an occurrence famously known as the "called shot." That particular year, Ruth clinched his final World Series victory in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Upon announcing in May that the Ruth jersey would be up for sale, Chris Ivy, head of sports auctions at Heritage, speculated it could fetch up to $30 million. "This is basically the Mona Lisa," Ivy told ESPN. "It's a really legendary moment that transcends not just baseball history but American history and pop culture. We'll still be discussing this a hundred years from now, and that's one of the reasons why I think it's the most significant piece of sports memorabilia in the world."
The Jersey's Value Soared
Post-retirement, Ruth gifted the jersey to a golfing pal. It was auctioned off thrice more, with the last sale in 2005 fetching $940,000. At the time, the jersey was only connected to the 1932 World Series and not to the infamous incident where Ruth signaled towards the outfield before hitting a home run against Chicago Cubs pitcher Charlie Root. Several companies have since compared the jersey to the one Ruth wore during the third game of the series at Wrigley Field, significantly hiking its value.
Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest baseball players ever. He clinched three World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox before joining the New York Yankees in 1919 and capturing four more. He hung up his cleats in 1935 and passed away in 1948 at the age of 53.
The $10 million threshold for sports memorabilia was first breached in 2022, with both the Mantle card and a Michael Jordan jersey (which sold for $10.1 million) breaking through to such high prices.
The jersey's astronomical price during the online auction positioned it as the most expensive sports memorabilia item, surpassing a 2022 record set by a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card. With its unprecedented value, the jersey has successfully carved a niche in the world of sports collectibles.
