Babe Ruth jersey sells for over $5.6M, sets sports memorablia record
A New York Yankees road jersey worn by Babe Ruth sold for $5,640,000 on Saturday, setting a record for the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold, according to a press release from Hunt Auctions.
"The legacy and significance of Babe Ruth to the game of baseball and American popular culture is unmatched by any other figure in the history of this country," president of Hunt Auctions David Hunt said. "We were completely humbled for this opportunity afforded to our company by the Ruth family to present this previously unknown archive of materials to Babe's adoring fans. While the record-setting prices attained today are certainly astonishing I am not surprised at all given the incredible materials and the mythical status the Babe holds in the history of this country."
The jersey, which dates back to the 1928-30 period, was from the Great Bambino's private family collection. It was auctioned off at Yankee Stadium on Saturday along with other items related to the legendary slugger and was previously owned by a private collector, who wished to remain anonymous.
SGC, a top card grading and game-worn uniform authentication service, recently called the jersey one of the most valuable pieces of sports memorabilia available.
The sale broke a previous record of more than $4.4 million for a different Ruth jersey sold in 2012.