WESTHAMPTON, N.Y., Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Babe Ruth's earliest known pinstripes, which the immortal Bambino wore on Opening Day for the New York Yankees on 4/13/1921, headline Grey Flannel's 2012 Holiday Auction. Bidding is now under way on 704 lots chosen for the absentee and Internet auction that closes for bidding on Dec. 12, 2012.
Ruth's game-used home flannel pants are offered together with multiple photomatches of him wearing them in front of the Yankees dugout. As a historical footnote, the Babe didn't disappoint fans at the 1921 opener. He went 5-for-5 at the plate that day.
The Babe Ruth pants are size 42 and as iconic as the stocky slugger who wore them. Richard Russek, president of Grey Flannel Auctions, observed: "These pinstripes are a piece of American and baseball history that you can actually touch, and they're directly linked to one of baseball's greatest legends – Babe Ruth." The pants require a minimum bid of $25,000.
Another memento of baseball's early days is a 1916-18 Ty Cobb Detroit Tigers game-used bat, accompanied by a letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA that grades it GU9.5. Remnants of tobacco juice and numerous cleat marks can be found on this baseball treasure from the swashbuckling Georgia Peach. Displaying excellent game use, the historic bat opens at $10,000.
This sale is packed with other tremendous game-used baseball artifacts, led by a 1966 Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles game-used home flannel jersey from his MVP and Championship season, a 1972 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants game-used road flannel uniform that is likely the last flannel the "Say Hey Kid" ever wore, and three game-used jerseys from the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" era, worn by Johnny Bench, Pete Rose and Tony Perez, respectively.
A game-used baseball from Orel Hershiser's 1988 season with the LA Dodgers is the very baseball that "Bulldog" walked off the mound with to end his historic 59-scoreless-innings streak. Remarkably, that record still stands. The ball comes directly from Hershiser with his signed letter of authenticity. Minimum bid: $25,000.
Autographed items include a 1930 New York Yankees bonus check for $833.33 endorsed by "Henry Louis Gehrig" and signed by longtime team owner Jacob Ruppert, and an exceptional Babe Ruth single-signed baseball with PSA/DNA graded-10 autograph.
Basketball highlights include Hall of Famer Robert Parish's 1986 Celtics Championship ring with LOA from Parish, a circa-1966 Jerry Lucas Cincinnati Royals game-used home jersey, and a 1974-75 Nate "Tiny" Archibald Kansas City/Omaha Kings game-used and autographed home jersey.
From the gridiron comes an early 1960s Paul Hornung Green Bay Packers game-used and autographed home jersey with photomatch, a late-1950s Frank Gifford New York Giants worn, custom-made sideline jacket, and circa-1966 rookie-era Joe Namath AFL NY Jets game-used road jersey.
Auction bidding, including by phone and online at www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com, will close on Dec. 12, 2012. Info: tel. 631-288-7800 ext. 223; Email.