Babe Ruthone of MLB greatest figures continue to make history posthumously, thanks to one of his gloveswhich he donated to St. Louis Browns third baseman Jimmy Austinsold today at the 19th annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory auction for $1.53 million, setting a new record for a baseball glove.
The previous mark was $387,500 paid for a Lou Gehrig glove during a 1999 Sotheby’s auction. The figure that had come closest to it was in 2013, when a Jackie Robinson glove, used in the 1955 and 1956 World Series, was sold for $373,000 by Steiner Sports.
The record-breaking glove is nearly 100 years old
The Babe’s record-setting glove was made by Spalding and used by Ruth between 1927 and 1933. As proof of authenticity, there is audio from 1964, used in ‘The Glory of Their Times’which shows Austin ttalking about the glove and slapping it against his other hand.
“My childhood memories with me ‘Uncle Jim’ are cherished,” Susan Kolokoff, Jimmy Austin’s niece, said in a statement from Hunt Auctions. “The glove had rested in a box for the past 30 years until we learned its history and heard the incredible audio recording.”
“This monumental glove is truly one of the most historic pieces of its medium ever offered at public auction,” said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions.
Babe Ruth was and remains the great Yankees legend
Ruth spent 15 years with the Yankees from 1920 through 1934 after starting his career as a member of the Boston Red Sox. The longtime MLB home run king finished his career with one season as a member of the Boston Braves.
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