1920s Babe Ruth jersey could set new record

NEW YORK — Babe Ruth is not necessarily through setting records.

On Saturday, he will try to break one of his own when a game-worn Yankees road jersey from the late 1920s is auctioned off at Yankee Stadium, part of a large trove of Ruth items, most (but not the jersey) consigned by his family.

For now, the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia on record is a 1920 Ruth jersey that went for just more than $4.4 million in 2012. That record could fall this weekend.

“It’s a superlative piece of American history, not just sports history,” David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, said at the Stadium on Thursday. “It embodies everything about baseball history, about collecting, iconic people, pop culture, you name it.”

The uniform, which was consigned by a collector, is unusual in having the word “YANKEES” across the front, the only era in franchise history in which that word appeared as part of the standard uniform.

The Yankees did not start wearing numbers on their backs until 1929. There is the faint outline — not visible to the naked eye — of a No. 3 on the back of the jersey, but it was removed at some point.

The bulk of the auction was consigned by the family and was announced in December by Ruth’s grandchildren, Linda Ruth Tosetti and Tom Stevens.

Tosetti said at the time that she struggled with the decision but that younger generations were unable or unwilling to house the collection, so she opted to part with many items.