Personal check, 8.5 x 3.25, filled out in another hand and signed by Ruth, “G. H. Ruth,” payable to The Myles Standish for $100.00, June 3, 1935. Check is also endorsed on the reverse, “G. H. Ruth.” Matted and framed with a photo of Ruth at the plate in his Yankees uniform, to an overall size of 14.75 x 21. Expected cancellation holes and stamps, a couple lightly surrounding signature, pencil notation to lower left, and some light soiling, otherwise fine condition.
At the time one of Boston’s finest hotels, the Myles Standish was often patronized by visiting baseball clubs, with Ruth a frequent guest. During his brief tenure with the Boston Braves, Ruth probably took up lodging there, right up until the day before he wrote this check—the day he announced his retirement from the Braves and from the game he had single-handedly saved. Denied the managerial position coveted for so long (and supposedly promised by Braves owner Emil Fuchs) Ruth walked away from the National Pastime without that cherished prize, and purportedly wept most of the drive home from Boston. Likely used as “spending money” for the long trek to New York, this is a bittersweet item signed by a broken-hearted legend. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
