A genuine signed Babe Ruth baseball bat is practically worth its weight in gold. Collectors would kill for this.
-Expert
Facts[]
- Fact 1: Ruth had a troubled childhood in 1900s Baltimore, and was introduced to baseball at the correctional St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys.
- Fact 2: An 18-year-old Ruth caught the eye of Jack Dunn, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, during an inter-school game in 1913. He signed a $250 contract with the Orioles just months later.
- Fact 3: 'Ruth's youth (he was just 19 when he signed his first contract) earned him the nickname "Babe", though most of his teammates called him George, "The Big Fellow", or "Bam".
- Fact 4: Though he signed on with his early teams as a pitcher, within four years Ruth had become known for his fielding and hitting prowess. By 1919, Ruth was batting a .300 average.
- Fact 5: After demanding a 100% raise from the Boston Red Sox, Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees for $100,000 in 1919. His later explosive success with the Yankees led to the myth of the "Curse of the Bambino".