Yanks jersey worn by Ruth sells for record price

The oldest-known Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth, circa 1920, sold for a record $4.42 million at an auction over the weekend, according to SCP Auctions. That total eclipsed the previous high for any item of sports memorabilia, $4.34 million brought in by James Naismith's 1891 typed rules of the game of basketball in 2010.

Lelands.com claims to have submitted the winning bid of $4,415,658. Suzan French, a spokesman for Lelands, said the company intends to privately sell the jersey, which had previously been on display at the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum.

In the same auction, Ruth's 1934 cap sold for $537,278, the highest price ever for a cap. A bat he used during the 1920s also brought in more than half a million dollars, selling for $591,007.

The cap had been owned by former pitcher David Wells, who wore it for one inning in a 1997 game. Wells originally paid $35,000 for the hat, but sold it to raise money to renovate his former high school's baseball field in San Diego.

Ruth's 714 career home runs rank third all-time behind Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. He hit .342 over 22 Major League seasons, 21 of which came with the Red Sox and Yankees. He retired in 1935 and passed away at the age of 53 on Aug. 16, 1948.