1942 Babe Ruth Screen Worn Glove from "The Pride of the Yankees." Though the Babe played only a minor supporting role in th...

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1942 Babe Ruth Screen Worn Glove from "The Pride of the Yankees." Though the Babe played only a minor supporting role in the Lou Gehrig biopic widely considered today to be the most important sports-themed film in American history, most of the movie posters advertising the release prominently announced the reigning Home Run King's name, a testament to Ruth's continued status as baseball's greatest drawing card. Along with Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig and Bill Dickey, the Babe appeared as himself in the film, taking the young Gehrig (played by Hollywood icon Gary Cooper) under his wing and into the Yankee fold. Presented here is the prop glove used by the left-handed Babe during the production of the film, a piece that would be valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars if it dated from just a decade earlier when Ruth was still plying his trade in the Bronx outfield. As an included letter of provenance attests, the glove was given upon the close of production to Otto and Matilda Kuff, who were very well known within Hollywood society and close friends of a number of top silver screen stars. They maintained a collection of movie props derived from these friendships, with this glove among their holdings. The five-finger button-back glove features a "James W. Brine Co. Inc." manufacturer's label on the wrist strap, with a vintage "Babe Ruth #2 LHF" hand inked to the inside of the strap, indicating this was the second left handed fielder's glove issued to Ruth for the project. Here we also find a faint block letter stamping reading "Samuel Goldwyn," the studio responsible for the production. As both a Hollywood prop from one of the era's most celebrated films, and a glove from the right hand of baseball's most noteworthy figure, this piece rates among the most appealing collectibles to enter the hobby in recent years.

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