Sometimes sports and history collide. Two iconic American signatures that may comparable to collectors of history and baseball would have to be Babe Ruth and George Washington. This is the first President and the original Home Run King. Collectors can take it to the bank that there is no such instance of a George Washington signed baseball. Still, both George Washington and George Herman Ruth each have thousands of signatures that can be readily purchased in auctions. It’s a fair question to ask “Which George” signature is worth more.
What must be explored are index style cutouts that are mounted and authenticated. The value must be certified to best be compared. Most of these will either be from Babe Ruth autographs (or signed checks) and from historical documents or letters signed by George Washington. Both will be in demand for generations.
Babe Ruth signatures are often associated with a physical baseball, but for sake of comparison we will exclude the sales of baseballs. On August 6, 2021 a 2011 SP Legendary Cuts Babe Ruth Cut Signature Autograph Auto #1/5 Yankees Q994 sold on eBay for $2,375.00 after 51 bids. What must be understood is this postcard sized document is encapsulated and authenticated. A good experiment must have controlled variables in the interest of science.
Also listed to eBay by PWCC, a Babe Ruth authenticated signature sold on June 30, 2021 for $6,934.00 after 55 bids. The paper in this example was white and the grade given was PSA/DNA 9 mint. This simply has much stronger eye appeal than some of the base signatures out there.
Before Collector’s Dashboard can explore similar size authenticated documents from our first president of The United States, the two Georges must be adequately expressed in terms of endearing opinions from the collectors as well as the public. It will require a lot of glossing over, but both men are revered in history. Both men also have issues which are not viewed favorably in the public as well. The reality is that both men have their place in history, and both may share the fate of being “in demand” by collectors for generations to come.
University Archives lists a January 24, 2017 sale of a George Washington signed document discharging a private in the 2nd regiment light dragoons. The private in question was named Jarod Hummungson who historically is remembered for this irrelevant discharge. Because of the private’s historical insignificance George Washington’s authenticated signature can better be compared in its own right. The signature sold for $11,000.00 and was estimated between $10,000.00 to $12,000.00 in the 2017 auction.
University Archives Sold George Washington Franking Signature During The Revolutionary War — From 25 September 1777 Just One Day Before The British Captured Philadelphia. Franking is a description of the style it was produced. A free frank allowed official mail to travel free. Free Frank was a means of official mail traveling freely without postage. The document sold for $11,000.00 on June 24, 2020.
There as some key differences between Presidential signatures from the U.S. Revolution versus sports heroes of twentieth century. There were not tens of thousands of boys and men who ran around with an autograph book in their hand when George Washington was alive. On the flip-side, Babe Ruth wasn’t signing official documents which of historical reference as part of his daily job.
The common theme, other than popularity and historic significance. is that there are likely an untold thousands of signatures from George Washington and Babe Ruth. Signed baseballs of Babe Ruth can still be purchased under $10,000 if the signature is weak or if it is included in multi-signature examples. A clean Ruth signature on a baseball can sell up to $100,000 — and pristine Ruth-signed baseballs have even sold upward of $200,000 and $300,000 for the finest examples.
Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. That would include signatures of George Washington and autographs signed by Babe Ruth. True sports collectors and hobbyists have a passion to own certain cards or memorabilia for quite a long time. The investor class in collectibles is solely buying an asset to sell at a later date for a profit. This keeps collectors and investors in a constant battle for who can win in auctions.
It would seem that there has to be a “By George!” exclamation in here somewhere. That said, collecting George Washington signatures and George Herman Ruth autographs is no laughing matter. It just takes money and some patience.
Photo credits below – Babe Ruth autograph photo by Heritage Auctions and George Washington Photo from University Archives.
