For Sale: A Piece of the Bambino

Apr 30 2008 3:48PM

Historic Auctions on Tuesday opened bidding on one of just two known checks in existence that are directly attributed to the infamous sale of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees.

The check is dated February 4, 1922, and is payable to the "Boston American League Baseball Club." It is for the amount of $50,000, signed by Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and countersigned by T.L. Huston. It is also endorsed on the reverse by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee and reads "Boston American League Baseball Club by HH Frazee, Prest." The check has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA to ensure its authenticity

According to Historic Auctions' James Brown, this particular $50,000 check covers the third and final $25,000 payment for the Ruth deal as well as a $25,000 loan payment that Frazee took from Ruppert.

The PSA/DNA label reads "Sale of Babe Ruth to NYY" and also indicates the authenticity of the Ruppert and Frazee signatures.

So began the "Curse of the Bambino." After the Babe joined the team in 1920, the Yankees went on to win 39 American League pennants and 26 World Series championships, while the Red Sox — who had dominated baseball with five titles from 1903 to 1918 — began their 86-year World Series championship drought that didn't end until 2004.

"This check is part of the biggest deal in sports history and obviously a big part of American history as well," says Brad Wells, CEO of Historic Auctions.

In addition to the check, Historic Auctions is offering almost 1,200 other items May 2008 auction.