Ruth’s watch nets $717,000
Published 4:17 am Tuesday, February 25, 2014
NEW YORK (AP) — Babe Ruth’s pocket watch from the 1923 World Series has sold for $717,000 at auction in New York City.
Heritage Auctions says the pentagonal 14-karat gold watch was bought Saturday by a telephone bidder who is remaining anonymous.
The timepiece was part of a set given to Ruth and his Yankees teammates after they beat their rivals, the New York Giants, in the 1923 World Series.
The Ruth watch is engraved with a picture of a pitcher, hitter and catcher and a ball in flight. It is inscribed, “Presented by Baseball Commissioner to George H. Ruth.”
Another highlight of the auction was a 1911 game-used bat from “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. It sold for $956,000.
Jackson was banned from baseball after he and his Chicago White Sox teammates were accused of fixing the 1919 World Series.