Babe Ruth's 'called shot' jersey sold for $24 million, breaks records

DALLAS (WKRC) - The jersey Babe Ruth wore during his legendary "called shot" has sold for $24 million, becoming the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia ever sold.

It was Game 3 of the 1932 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs, and Babe Ruth had already hit a three-run homer in the first inning.

Four innings later, the Cubs' dugout jeered and yelled at Babe Ruth as he stepped up to bat. Ruth yelled back and pointed two fingers toward center field. Cubs pitcher Charlie Root launched the ball toward Ruth, who slammed it into the seats in center field.

The "called shot" homerun would be cemented in baseball history, a fact only further proven by the sale of the jersey Ruth wore during the game.

The "1932 Babe Ruth Game Worn New York Yankees World Series 'Called Shot' Jersey" was listed on Heritage Auction's websitemonths before it was sold, and it immediately garnered tons of attention.

The shirt itself was turning heads, but the projected price was jaw-dropping. Experts expected the jersey would easily break the prior record for the most expensive sports memorabilia item, some even estimated it could sell for upwards of $30 million.

"This is essentially the Mona Lisa," Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage Auctions, told ESPN. "It's a very mythical moment that crosses over not only in baseball history, but American history, pop culture history."

"We're still talking about it 100 years later, which is one of the reasons why I think it's the most significant piece of sports memorabilia in the world," he continued.

Still, the jersey ended up fetching $24 million, demolishing the previous record by nearly double. It was previously held by a mint-condition 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card that sold for $12.6 million.

This same jersey was sold in 2005 for a mere $940,000. At the time, the jersey was only known to be worn by Babe Ruth at some point during the 1932 World Series, but they had not yet identified it as the "called shot" jersey.

Barry Meisel, president and COO of MeiGray Authenticated, one of the companies who authenticated the jersey was indeed from Ruth's "called shot," was excited and impressed by the discovery:

"A Babe 'called shot' jersey could be, if not be, the most important sports relic in American history, in world history."