Want a piece of baseball history? Babe Ruth baseball is up for sale

SEATTLE  — Baseball Hall of Famer Babe Ruth played some exhibition games in Spokane and Seattle in October of 1924. While he was here, he signed a lot of autographs, including a ball for a young Spokane boy who kept it in the family.

Grant Zahajko, the co-owner of Grant Zahajko Auctions, put that baseball up for auction. He said he’s never seen a Ruth item quite like this.

More from the world of baseball: Zahajko’s website

“About six months ago, (the ball’s owner) went to the safety deposit box to retrieve it and pulled this baseball out, and it looks like it was signed yesterday,” Zahajko said.

Zahajko explained that Ruth signed a lot of items over the years, but that he’s never seen a ball that’s almost 100 years old in such pristine condition.

More on Seattle baseball: Zahajko’s website

The live auction took place Thursday morning in Davenport, but the ball did not attract the minimum bid of $40,000.

Grant Zahajko Auctions is negotiating with the highest bidder to see if an after-auction deal can be reached on the ball. You can see the ball on Zahajko’s website.

KIRO Newsradio has reached out to the the auction house and is awaiting a response.

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Other memorabilia up for sale included a 1956 Jackie Robinson baseball card, multiple items signed by Ty Cobb, several cards featuring another New York Yankees legend in Mickey Mantle and a patch sleeve belonging to former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Contributing: Steve Coogan, MYNorthwest

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