Significant July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth First Major League Game ... - photo 1
Significant July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth First Major League Game ... - photo 2
Significant July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth First Major League Game ... - photo 3

Significant July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth First Major League Game ...

Lot 11
16.12.2020 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 100 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 465327
Lot 11 | Significant July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth First Major League Game ...
Estimate value
$ 50 000 – 75 000
Significant July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth First Major League Game "Lineup Card" (Tommy Connolly Collection) (PSA/DNA)

On July 11, 1914 Tommy Connolly, along with umpire O'Loughlin, presided over a game played between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Naps at Fenway Park in Boston. The game was, for the most part, fairly insignificant save for the debut of a young pitcher by the name of George "Babe" Ruth. Ruth played in his first Major League game on this date departing with a no decision after six innings. Ruth surrendered only five hits and one run to the mighty Cleveland team, whose lineup included Nap Lajoie and Joe Jackson. Ironically, on the offensive side of the ball, Ruth struck out in his first at bat. The lineup card itself is neatly penned in Connolly's hand, including positions, date, site, umpires (including a last name autograph of Connolly), and even the substitution of left fielder Duffy Lewis for Olaf Henriksen (misspelled 'Hendrickson' by Connolly). The Babe is simply listed as "Ruth-P." just above the name of the substitute Duffy. The size of the paper stock card is 4 ¼"x 4 ½" with a single horizontal fold line.

This particular item originated from the personal collection of Hall of Fame umpire Tommy Connolly. Connolly was documented to have preserved additional noteworthy items of memorabilia within his collection including the first pitch baseball in the history of Fenway Park (See Hunt Auctions, April 2012, lot 335) and the Eddie Collins single signed baseball within this auction. Given the impeccable provenance of the offered card and the mundane nature of Ruth's debut, the card is certainly unique and possibly one of the more significant lineup cards of its type extant.

The lot also includes an original photograph of Connolly posed in full umpire gear on the field by Louis Van Oeyen, c.1910. Image measures 5"x8" signed by Van Oeyen with surface abrasion at bottom margin. Includes full LOA from JSA and encapsulated by PSA/DNA: EX

4 ¼ x 4 ½ in., the lineup card

5 x 8 in., the photograph

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
16.12.2020 – 16.12.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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