Babe Ruth grandchildren, family members cherish the Great Bambino’s legacy, historic memorabilia

Last year when the Heritage Auctions gavel banged loudly to declare the end of bidding for the Babe Ruth jersey he wore during his famous “Called Shot” home run in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, it was a shot heard around the world. Or at least as far as Ruth’s grandson’s home in New Hampshire. Ruth’s grandson, Tom Stevens, is well aware of the debate surrounding the validity of claims that Ruth actually pointed to the center field wall, indicating that he would slug a baseball over the wall. The debate will probably rage on forever—with no answer coming close to conclusive. Stevens is also aware of the hefty price paid for the historic relic. Did the winning bid surprise him? “No, it didn’t because it seems to me that players’ salaries and the premiums paid for collectibles often move in concert with each other. And look at some of the contracts that were awarded recently],” he said. “Look at when Alex Rodriguez left Texas and went to the Yankees for $25 million a year, and they later upped that to $27 million. The sports world was incredulous. … Look at the contract the Mets gave Juan Soto ($765 million). Only time will tell what kind of return they will get on their investment, but history has shown that these exorbitant contracts often do not work out well for the franchises.”

By Wayne StewartOctober 6, 2026Sports Collectors Digest

The persistent demand for Babe Ruth memorabilia proves that his legacy remains the gold standard for historical sports assets. The record-breaking sales of his gear suggest that true, one-of-a-kind artifacts are immune to broader market fluctuations.

Babe Ruth grandchildren, family members cherish the Great Bambino’s legacy, historic memorabilia

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