At US$24.1m, Babe Ruth's "Called Shot" jersey becomes the most expensive sports item ever auctioned

In a home run in baseball history, Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” jersey sells for US$24.1 million. This means that, by no small margin, it is now the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold. Nearly doubling the price of the last most expensive piece of sports memorabilia, a Mickey Mantle baseball card.

The jersey also comfortably clears the record for the most expensive game-worn jersey sold, having surpassed Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls jersey he wore during the 1998 NBA finals. That jersey sold for US$10.1 million in 2022.




Lot 80162⏐Spalding⏐1932 Babe Ruth Game Worn New York Yankees World Series "Called Shot" Jersey, SGC Superior- Photo Matched
Circa: 1932 Season, World Series
Size 46
Provenance:

  • Babe Ruth
  • Acquired by a golfing friend of Babe Ruth during the baseball ball player’s retirement in Flordia most likely between 1946 and 1948
  • Passed down to the previous owner’s daughter
  • Acquired by a baseball collector in 1990


Estimate: US$30,000,000
Hammer Price: US$20,100,000
Sold: US$24,120,000


Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Sale: Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction #50072
Date: 23-25 August 2024


Days before the final price was achieved, the lot was able to secure its record-breaking position. Even as far back as four days before bidding closed, the lot had already reached US$15.1 million, meaning that if the sale ended then and there, it still would’ve cleared the previous record.

The previous record for the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia was a Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card sold by Heritage Auctions in 2022. It went for US$12.6 million, with this lot coming close to doubling the record. Incidentally, Mickey Mantle himself was also a Yankee, like Babe Ruth, and both would come to have careers that helped define the sport.


Topps⏐1952⏐#311⏐Mickey Mantle, finest known example⏐Mint Condition 9.5⏐ Sold by Heritage Auctions Dallas, for around US$ 12.6 million, 2022
 

Babe Ruth is one of baseball’s greatest players. He set several records with his 1921 season alone, seeing “The Bambino” score 177 runs, 457 bases, and 119 extra-base hits. Ruth’s legacy can now comfortably add the record of this jersey to the list. 

While Babe Ruth started his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, he would transition to being a batter and eventually be sold to the New York Yankees in 1920, where his legacy as one of the baseball greats would come into its own. On the Yankees, Ruth was one of the members of “murderers row,” a line-up of six heavy hitters that made the Yankees a major force in the league. 

Ruth played for the Yankees for 14 years and helped the team win four World Series titles. Ruth would also win for himself MVP in 1923 and set a .378 batting average in 1924. This success, dominance, and fame is what opened the path for the famous “Called Shot.”


Babe Ruth pictured here in 1927 practicing his batting during the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates
 

In 1932, Babe Ruth and the Yankees would go up against the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. This was quite exhilarating, as the Yankees and Cubs had an ongoing period of hostility between each other. This had started when former Yankee Mark Koeing was transferred to the Cubs and was instrumental in the latter team winning their league. However, the Cubs had voted to not give Koeing the entirety of the prize money he earned, causing the Yankees to be infuriated.

Additionally, Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy had been a member of the Cubs until he was unceremoniously fired in 1930, even though he had been a key member of that organization. This led the Yankees to label the Cubs “cheapskates,” something the Cubs did not take lightly. 

In retaliation would “trash talk” the Yankees, especially Ruth. They called Ruth “fat” and “washed,” even calling the Yankees slurs. When the Yankees won the first two games of the series at their home field in NYC and traveled to Chicago for the next two games, the vitriol only got worse.


An image of the 1932 World Series featuring select members from the Cubs and Yankees including Ruth, standing second from the left
 

When Ruth and his wife arrived at Wrigley’s stadium, they were spit on by the local Chicago crowd, and when Ruth went up to bat, he was heckled and had lemons thrown at him.

By the 4th inning, the game was 4-4. Ruth had already hit one home run. He was batting against Charlie Root. Ruth took one strike against Root, and while being heckled, Ruth held up his right hand and pointed out to the flagpole in the center field. He then took a second strike from Root and repeated the pointing gesture.

It was at the third pitch, when Root threw a curveball, that Ruth hammered the baseball deep into centerfield. The ball flew between 440 and 490 feet, landing in the stands. He then mocked the Cub’s dugout and ran his bases. The Yankees won the game 7-5 and would go on to sweep the series in the next game.


Babe Ruth nailing a home run at the 3rd game of the 1932 World Series, possibly the “Called Shot” itself
 

The nature of the “Called Shot” is one of the largest mysteries in baseball. Conflicting reports state that Ruth wasn’t pointing at the flagpole but at the Cub’s dugout or Root himself. Recovered footage from the game does not make it any clearer what Ruth was pointing at, but teammate Lou Gerhig was positive it was at the flagpole in center field.

In his 1948 autobiography, Ruth wrote that he told his wife, “I’ll belt one where it hurts them the most.” It lends credence to the idea that this was indeed a called shot and not a random occurrence. 

Regardless, this moment would have been a small moment in baseball history, a footnote, if it wasn’t for Joe Williams, a well-respected sports editor of the time. His headline is “RUTH CALLS SHOT AS HE PUTS HOME RUN NO. 2 IN SIDE POCKET.” His hyping up of the moment in the New York World-Telegram breathed life into the event, making it a part of baseball mythology.


A newspaper from after the 3rd game in the 1932 World Series

A photo of Babe Ruth pointing his finger before the home run
 

The lot was authenticated by the MeiGray Group, who cross-referenced photos from the actual game. MeiGray confirmed that the lot is the real jersey that Babe Ruth wore during the “Called Shot” game, specifically through the placement of the buttons and letters on the jersey that match up with photo evidence.

Further details, such as the style of the jersey being in-keeping with the style worn during Yankees away games, Ruth’s iconic number "3,” and the modification to use a “tie-down” strap, which Ruth preferred in his heftier years.


The MeiGray Group photo authentication to confirm the jersey is the real game-worn one