Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Babe

Full Text:

Babe Ruth Signed Baseball Brings $35,500

w/1cut

MATTAPOISETT, MASS. -- A baseball signed by Babe Ruth sold for $35,500 at

Compass Rose Auctions of New Bedford on August 8. The sale benefited Hearts &

Hands, a community-sponsored, non-profit program offered to sick children and

their families. Another 100 lots of sports memorabilia were also auctioned.

As told by Bridget McSweeney of the New Bedford Standard Times in an article

entitled "A Gift of Love," the story began in 1931 when "Babe Ruth was still

the Sultan of Swat, the greatest home-run hitter in baseball and Walter Kent,

Jr, was a sweet, freckle-faced 11-year-old with a deadly disease."

McSweeney continued, "Fate brought the two -- the king of baseball and a sick

little boy from New Bedford -- together in a Boston hospital that year. For

the Babe, it was a routine game injury. For the kid, a brain tumor that had

been slowly stealing his sight since he was six was growing in his head."

Sixty-five years later, the baseball autographed by Ruth and given to little

Walter will again help terminally ill children.

In the hospital, Ruth gave the boy the signed baseball and told him to keep it

all his life, which he did. When Walter "Buddy" Kent died seven years later,

at 18, the baseball was near his bed. Kent's niece, Janice Morrissette, gave

the Ruth ball and another one signed by Boston Brave Hall of Fame shortstop

"Rabbit' Maranville to Hearts & Hands.

At the time, the meeting of Walter Kent and Babe Ruth captured the public's

imagination, generating stories in local papers. Years later, research yielded

copies of these articles as well as a photograph depicting Walter with his

prized possession. Complete provenance combined with the opportunity for

public service helped assure the ball's warm reception in the sporting

collectibles community.

"We were pleased to be asked to be a part of this community event," said

Duncan Gray of Compass Rose Auctions. "The interest level was immense. There

were 22 phone bidders from across the country. Hopefully, this will be just

one of the future success stories for Hearts & Hands, a wonderful organization

of caring people."