Circa 1918 Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Dry Docks Team Panorama with Babe Ruth

Sold For:

$7,638

Year:

1915

Auction:

2007 Spring

Lot #:

1234

Category:

-

Spectacular panoramic photograph captures the members of the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Dry Docks, one of the top independent semipro teams in the country, as they pose together along their respective baselines prior to an exhibition game at Oriole Park in Baltimore. The most prominent player pictured is Babe Ruth, who is positioned first in line for the Red Sox (closest to home plate). This photo, taken from the perspective of the pitcher's mound, displays remarkable clarity and encompasses nearly the entire filled-to-capacity grandstand areas. The photographer's credit ("Hughes Co.") appears in the lower right corner. Although the photograph is undated, Ruth and the Red Sox traveled to Baltimore to play the Dry Docks in both 1918 and 1919. (The Red Sox also played the Baltimore Orioles twice in 1919.) These exhibition games were particularly significant for Ruth as well as for Baltimore fans, as Ruth of course grew up in Baltimore and signed his first professional contract with Jack Dunn's Baltimore Orioles in 1914. Ruth considered Baltimore his true home and frequently came to town to visit family and friends at St. Mary's, but only had the opportunity to play baseball for the fans of Baltimore these few times after making it to the Major Leagues. For Ruth and for Baltimore these games were a homecoming. Ruth certainly put on a good show for his hometown constituents during his four visits to Baltimore in 1918 and 1919. In the 1918 game against the Dry Docks, played on September 7th, Ruth hit two home runs in leading the Red Sox to a 10-6 victory. Prior to the game Ruth also presented the Dry Docks with a silver trophy cup for winning the shipyard league championship. The following season, Ruth once again put on a hitting clinic for the Baltimore faithful. In the three exhibition games (one against the Dry Docks and two against the Orioles), Ruth came to bat eleven times and produced a total of eight hits, all of which were home runs (including six in a row against the Orioles). The photograph (45 x 9.25 inches) has a half-inch tear in the top edge (extremely minor and mentioned strictly for the sake of accuracy) and is in Excellent condition overall. Framed to total dimension of 47 x 11 inches. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$1,500. SOLD FOR $7,637.50