Jersey linked to Babe Ruth’s iconic ‘called shot’ moment auctioned for more than $24 million

The jersey worn by Babe Ruth during the 1932 World Series, where he famously called his shot and hit a home run to center field, was sold at auction in Dallas for over $24 million. Heritage Auctions revealed that the New York Yankee legend’s jersey fetched a record-breaking $24.12 million after a six-hour bidding war. The buyer chose to remain anonymous, according to Heritage.

This sale price surpassed the amount reached for Mickey Mantle’s 1952 rookie card, which was sold for $12.6 million by the same Dallas-based auction house in 2022. Chris Ivy, Heritage’s sports director, described the jersey as “the most significant piece of American sports memorabilia ever offered at auction.” He highlighted the myth and significance of the jersey in baseball history.

The iconic moment when Ruth pointed towards center field before hitting a home run during Game 3 of the World Series in 1932 is regarded as one of the most legendary in baseball history. The Yankees went on to win that game and sweep the series. This jersey marked Ruth’s final World Series appearance, with the called shot being his last World Series home run.

Heritage Auctions stated that Ruth had given the road jersey to a friend in Florida around 1940, and it had been kept within the family for decades before being sold to a collector in the early 1990s. After changing hands multiple times, the jersey was eventually consigned to Heritage for auction this year.

Despite debate over whether Ruth genuinely called his shot, historical footage from the game shows him pointing before hitting the home run. Michael Gibbons, director emeritus and historian at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, believes Ruth did indeed call his shot based on evidence and Ruth’s own claims. The called shot remains a remarkable moment in baseball history, serving as a testament to Ruth’s iconic status in the sport.