When documenting the career of Babe Ruth, superlatives inevitably come into play regarding his diamond feats and off-field exploits alike. In the challenging task of citing the peak of that career, one must select the 1927 season as the definitive campaign. As Ruth testimonials and souvenirs go, that season of pure dominance is the pinnacle, elevating the offered OAL Johnson baseball to the uppermost echelon of Ruth autographed treasures. The lightly toned orb showcases prominent trademark stampings that date specifically to 1927, a mythical year marked by Ruth’s record 60 home runs. On a side panel, Ruth has signed in black-ink fountain pen. The bold scripting (marked by quotation marks around “Babe”) projects (“7-8”) potency and is preceded by a personalization in Ruth’s unmistakable hand. Full photo LOA from JSA.

While fans eagerly followed Ruth's home run parade and counted along as the numbers escalated, it's a good bet that nobody was more aware of his progress than Ruth, himself. Needing five home runs with seven games remaining, Ruth delivered in theatrical fashion as only he could. Home run number 56 was a walk-off clout on September 22. Wary of souvenir seekers, Ruth carried his bat as he circled the bases to ensure further use. Five days later with only four games remaining, Ruth hit number 57, a grand slam off of Hall of Famer Lefty Grove. The next game, hit launched round-trippers 58 and 59 (the latter blast another grand slam). Then, the very next day in the penultimate game of the season, Ruth turned on a Tom Zachary offering, hit his record 60th home run and circled the bases as Zachary pleaded with the umpires that the ball was actually foul. In the clubhouse following the game, Ruth bellowed: "Sixty, count 'em, sixty! Let's see some other son of a bitch match that!" Even 20 years later, ravaged by cancer, Ruth recalled the event with striking clarity as he met with Zachary at a Yankee Stadium reunion. Said Ruth: "You crooked arm son of a bitch, are you still claiming that ball was foul?" Such was the dynamic personality of the game's greatest player in his greatest season. Ruth, 1927 and the mystique of that combination are the earmarks of this wondrous keepsake. The script-style font of the trademark stampings date specifically to 1927. Furthermore, Ruth's quotation marks around "Babe" date to his pre-1928 scriptings. Infinite appeal abounds whether you're a Ruth collector, a Yankees enthusiast or have a penchant for American culture and its most beloved icon.