Ruth and DiMaggio game-worn lids up for grabs
Two game-worn caps of Hall of Fame icons Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio lead off a wide variety of sports memorabilia headed to auction during Grey Flannel Auction’s Dec. 17 Holiday Auction.
WESTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The VIP hat rack is full at Grey Flannel Auctions’ December 17 Holiday Auction, with caps worn by none other than New York Yankee immortals Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio.
“It’s totally coincidental that two of the rarest and most coveted baseball caps of all
time found their way to the same auction, but it’s our good fortune that they did. We’re tremendously proud to be offering these unique items to collectors,” said Richard E. Russek, president of Grey Flannel Auctions.
The game-used Babe Ruth cap, which was sourced from the Ruth family more than 30 years ago, is the only example known to have been worn by the Bambino during his 1934 Tour of Japan, which took place only weeks following his departure from the Yankees. The December 17 sale marks the first time the historic cap has come to auction.
The cap has “US” embroidered on the front, and inside the sweatband, the name “Babe Ruth” is embroidered in chain stitching. The cap is accompanied by an LOA from the consignor, who was close friends with a prominent person in the Babe Ruth Baseball Little League organization, who in turn obtained it directly from the Ruth family. The minimum bid on the cap, $50,000, was surpassed at press time.
A circa-1937 rookie-era Yankees cap that was game-used by the great Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, will also cross the auction block. The extremely rare navy blue wool cap with NY logo is in beautiful, all-original condition. Embroidered inside the sweatband is “7 J. DiMaggio.” The consignor’s family has owned and treasured the DiMaggio cap since the day the baseball legend took it off his head and handed it to them. The lot opened at $25,000.
Other highlights in Grey Flannel’s Holiday Auction include:
- 1932 New York Yankees team-signed baseball, featuring signatures from 10 Hall of Fame inductees.
- Uncommon official program from the 1924 World’s Colored Championship baseball series.
- Arnold Palmer’s Masters Tournament-worn monogrammed sweater from his final major victory in 1964.
The Holiday Auction is open now through Dec. 17. Visit www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com to view the full catalog and place bids. For additional information, call 631-288-7800, ext. 223; or email info@greyflannelauctions.com.
