A piece of baseball history has been sold for a record-breaking $24.1 million, shattering the previous record for the most expensive sports memorabilia ever auctioned. The iconic New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth during the 1932 World Series was sold in an online auction, surpassing expectations and cementing its place in sports memorabilia history.
The jersey, donned by Ruth during his famous “called shot” game against the Chicago Cubs, is a symbol of one of baseball’s most enduring legends. Ruth’s defiant home run, which secured the World Series win for the Yankees, has become an integral part of baseball lore.
The sale of the jersey marks a new milestone in the sports memorabilia market, which has seen a surge in high-profile sales in recent years. In 2022, a Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for $12.6 million, and a Michael Jordan basketball jersey fetched a similar price. The Ruth jersey’s sale more than doubles the previous record, setting a new benchmark for sports memorabilia collectors.
The jersey’s provenance is impeccable, having been gifted by Ruth to a friend after his retirement and changing hands only three times since. Its sale for $940,000 in 2005 seems modest compared to its current value, a testament to the enduring appeal of baseball’s greatest legend.
