Babe Ruth's Inscribed 571st Home Run Baseball - May 24, 1931

Babe Ruth seemingly invented the home run. He was the first player to hit 30, 40, 50, and 60 home runs in a big league season, and his slugging style forever changed the way baseball was played. In fact, it was Ruth and his home run exploits that almost single handedly lifted the game from its ugly depths brought on by the Black Sox scandal of 1919 and restored it to America's gloried National Pastime. Ruth’s home run hitting dominance was to such a degree that by the time he clouted his unfathomable 500^{th home run in 1929, the Bambino had, at the time, more than twice the number of round-trippers than the Phillies' Cy Williams who ranked second on the all-time list with 237. Although Ruth’s homer tally would climb to a then-record 714 by the conclusion of his career, the number of indisputably authentic Ruth home run balls known, those documented by Ruth himself, can be counted on one hand. This ball was hit by Babe Ruth on May 24, 1931 at Yankee Stadium off Philadelphia pitcher Rube Walberg. The sixth inning, solo homer was the 571st of Ruth’s career. Upon its retrieval, Ruth added his signature to the sweet spot (8/10), and inscribed the adjacent panels of this OAL (Barnard) ball. To the left of his signature Ruth wrote “No 6," and on the right he penned “May 24, 1931." Typical of a game used ball, it shows some scuffing and general soiling remaining in very good condition overall with a clear coat of shellac. One of few self-documented Ruth home run balls known. LOAs from PSA/DNA and JSA.}