Consign Your Best Items with Lelands. We Also Pay Cash on the Spot! Learn More Here.
Circa 1934 "Babe Ruth" Japanese Kimono
Scarce Japanese silk baseball kimono featuring the name of "Babe Ruth" within the design. The colorful graphics feature generic ballplayers in various poses, baseball equipment, scoreboards, trophy cups, flags, and, most prominently, baseballs bearing the facsimile signature of Babe Ruth. This is the first example of this "Babe Ruth" baseball kimono we have ever seen, let alone handled. While we cannot be certain of its year of manufacture, it most likely dates to 1934 or shortly after. 1934 was the year the United States sent an all-star baseball team on a goodwill tour of Japan. While there had been earlier United States baseball tours to Japan, the 1934 tour was especially noteworthy because it was the only such tour to include Babe Ruth. No player on that tour commanded the attention that Ruth did and he was treated like a king in every town he traveled. That legendary 1934 tour, and its memory, most likely inspired the design of this kimono, making it both a rare and attractive souvenir that will appeal to both Babe Ruth and Japanese baseball collectors. The adult-size kimono displays light-to-moderate staining, but it is mainly visible only on the white interior. Aside from that, the garment remains in Excellent condition.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
1940’s New York Cuban Stars Pin & Pennant
1940’s East/West Negro League Pennant
1943 Zulu Cannibal Giants Negro League Broadside
1945 Chicago American Giants Negro League Broadside
1930’s Colored House of David Broadside (22x32”)
Satchell Paige Original Artwork by Richard Merkin (16x20”)
1940’s New York Cuban Stars Pin & Pennant