A glove used by Babe Ruth during the second half of his illustrious career sold at auction for $1.53 million on Saturday, setting the record for the price paid for a baseball glove.
The previous record is believed to be $387,500 for a Lou Gehrig glove sold in 1999.
The Ruth glove came from the collection of Jimmy Austin, an 18-year Major Leaguer who played for the Yankees and the St. Louis Browns from 1909-29, and to whom Ruth personally donated the glove.
Audio of a 1964 interview with Austin that was conducted for the 1966 book “The Glory of Their Times” captured him discussing the precious piece of baseball gear.
“My childhood memories with my Uncle Jim are extremely dear to me," Susan Kolokoff, Austin's niece, said in a statement from Hunt Auctions, which handled Saturday’s sale. “The glove had rested in a box for the last 30 years until we learned of its history and heard the amazing audio recording.”
Saturday’s sale took place during the 19th annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Live Auction.
"This monumental glove is truly [one] of the most historic pieces of its medium to have ever been offered at public auction," said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions.