Consign Your Best Items with Lelands. We Also Pay Cash on the Spot! Learn More Here.
1942 Babe Ruth "Stock in Trade" as a Baseball Letter
<p>Great November 19, 1942, letter (8.5x11") from Babe Ruth to the Internal Revenue Service for disavowing a deduction of payments he made to his wife for acting as his secretary. Ruth states that, "My stock in trade is the reputation which I have built up as a baseball player and the services which I have been able to render as a coach, advisor, manager and commentator in the field of baseball, and radio and moving pictures." Ruth argues through this letter that to maintain his reputation, now that he is retired, means that the payments to his wife were "reasonable, necessary and proper." Ruth explains that he is still in great public demand and that in order to respond to demands for his services as a speaker, commentator, endorser of products, etc. he needs a secretary. Ruth, in referring to his wife, writes, "Her job entails answering my mail, sorting and examining the propositions offered to me, interviewing on my behalf the principals involved, making all arrangements for my appearances, checking and rehearsing with me any scripts which I may be called upon to deliver, arranging transportation and hotel accommodation, conferring with the people with whom I am assigned to work, etc." The letter also concerns the IRS not allowing Ruth's deduction of baseballs and photos he gave out as a justified expense. The unsigned letter has some interesting pencil notations, and the letter as a whole provides an interesting look "behind the curtain" of a baseball immortal. Condition is very good.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">T</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">his collection is originally from Babe Ruth’s right hand man: Mr. Joe Bihler. Bihler handled personally the Babe Ruth account for christy Walsh, Babe Ruth’s legendary agent. Bihler & Walsh took loving care of the Babe from the peak of his playing career, till his final years. </span><br style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Along with their #1 client Babe Ruth, Walsh & Bihler represented most of the major sports legends over their careers including lou Gehrig, ty cobb, Knute Rockne, John McGraw and many more in a myriad of different sports. These important documents are fascinating look into the life and times of George Herman “Babe” Ruth. they include several of his income tax returns, income notes from his banner 1927 year showing great detail of his earnings, a telegram from a racist police chief, and a great letter Ruth sent to the IRS regarding a deduction he made for his wife acting as his secretary. </span></p>
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
1942 Babe Ruth Bank Check Made Out To The New York Yankees (PSA)
1939 New York World's Fair Academy of Sport Photos from Babe Ruth's Right Hand Man (12)
Fascinating 1921-38 Document "How Babe Ruth Made His Money"
1930s-40s Letters to Babe Ruth w/His Premature Death (11)
1920s Football Humidor & Letter Presented to Babe Ruth's Right Hand Man
1942 Christy Walsh "Pride of the Yankees" Letters (30+)
1930s-40s Babe Ruth Stationery & Envelopes
