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Ripken
03-07-2007, 02:29 AM
Has anyone seen this "autographed Ruth jersey" before?

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660201197,00.html

allstarsplus
03-07-2007, 11:36 AM
It seems the writer didn't do much research. Since we can't see labels or the back of the jersey it is hard to tell. Can't see the signature either.

He writes: Middlesworth pointed out that if you looked closely, you could see a few faint shadows on the jersey that look like "t-o-n" as in the last three letters of "Boston." It appeared as though the lettering may have been glued on, then removed.

Whether the shirt is an authentic jersey is unclear, he said. It could be from when Ruth was playing for the Red Sox, before his famous trade to New York, though the pinstripes would probably indicate otherwise.
http://deseretnews.com/photos/3882239.jpg


If it was from Boston, it doesn't seem to match the database when Ruth played for Boston from 1914 to 1919, and then again for Boston in 1935 (Boston Braves)

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/uniforms.asp?league=AL&city=Boston&lowYear=1914&highYear=1919&sort=year&increment=9

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/uniforms.asp?league=NL&city=Boston&lowYear=1935&highYear=1935&sort=year&increment=9

Looks more the style of a Yankees from 1923 to 1930, but then this writing on the front (which may have been removed) is inconsistent with a Yankees jersey of this time period.
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/uniforms.asp?league=AL&city=New+York&lowYear=1920&highYear=1934&sort=year&increment=18

What the owner of the jersey is confident of is the autograph: One thing Middlesworth is confident of is that the autograph is authentic. He has two letters of authentication, one by Authentic Autographs Unlimited and one signed by Christopher Morales, Forensic Documents Examiner.


Does anyone know Authentic Autographs Unlimited or Christopher Morales as Ruth autograph experts?

Hope we can find more about the jersey.
Andrew

allstarsplus
03-07-2007, 11:48 AM
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/images/al_1920_newyork.gif

The sleeve detail from the Yankees while Ruth played doesn't have the same sleeve detail so I believe from trying to match up jerseys from all of Babe Ruth's Major League seasons from 1914 to 1935 that the framed jersey pictured below matches no jersey to Babe's playing days in the Majors.

It could be a Coach's jersey possibly or what's worse, a total fabrication. Since we can't see the signature or labeling, it is really hard to determine what it is.

Andrew

allstarsplus
03-07-2007, 11:56 AM
I just left a message for Brad Rock who wrote the article to see if he will email a closeup of the signature.

Andrew

allstarsplus
03-09-2007, 08:31 PM
Here is an email written to me from the writer of the article:

Andrew:

Thank you very much for the phone message regarding the Babe Ruth jersey.

While I don't have another photo, other than the one taken by the
newspaper, you might get Alan Middlesworth to forward one to you. His email is plaqshaq2006@comcast.net.

I'm fairly sure he'd like to hear from you.

By the way, thanks for your research on jerseys, too. It makes an interesting consideration. Now that we know it probably isn't a Boston jersey, the question -- as you noted -- is whether it's a Babe Ruth autograph.

I'm sure Alan would like this put to rest.

Brad Rock

David
03-09-2007, 11:55 PM
I have never seen a Babe Ruth signed jersey or even a shirt. It may be the in thing today, but players rarely autographed jerseys in the old days.

This item should be inspected by PSA/DNA, James Spence Authentication, GAI or other reputable sports autograph expert. A serious autograph collector won't purchase or bid on this without such approval. Most experienced collectors will dismiss the offered LOAs and, considering the potential value of a real Ruth signed jersey, will wonder why it hadn't already been examined by PSA/DNA, etc.