The World Series Championship ring presented to Babe Ruth as part of the iconic 1927 New York Yankees team is heading to auction for the very first time.
The 14k gold and diamond ring has been described as "baseball’s true Holy Grail", and will cross the block at Leland’s Auctions on June 30.
The Leland’s sale marks the first time that the legendary ring has been offered publically for sale, and experts believe it could easily sell for millions.
Following Ruth’s death in 1948, the ring was worn by his widow Claire, who had the size altered to fit her own finger.
It remained in her possession until the 1970s, when it was acquired by the legendary baseball collector Barry Halper, and later sold again privately in the mid 1990s.
Bidding on the ring has already reached almost $500,000, and looks likely to soar far higher before the online sale closes on June 30.
According to Leland’s, "Babe Ruth changed the game from mere sport to the American Pastime. He is to sport what the Beatles are to music.
"We have sold and seen many great pieces of sports memorabilia in our nearly 50 years in the hobby, but this is without a doubt the finest piece of all.
"It is incomprehensible that such a piece exists outside of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown let alone to be for sale publicly."
To this day, the 1927 Yankees are widely considered to be the greatest team in MLB history.
Having won the pennant 19 games ahead of their nearest rivals, they then swept the World Series 4-0 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Their formidable hitting line-up, which included Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mark Koenig and Bob Meusel, struck fear in pitchers across the nation and became known simply as ‘Murderer’s Row’.
It was during the 1927 season that Ruth struck an incredible 60 home runs, beating his own benchmark of 59, set back in 1921.
Ruth’s record stood untouched for the next 34 years, before fellow New York Yankee Roger Maris surpassed him with 61 home runs in the 1961 season.
"The highest award, from the finest season, from the iconic franchise and from the greatest player," said the auction house. "This combination of ‘greatest’ makes this mathematically easily viewed as the greatest piece of all.
"Plaudits and testimonials are unnecessary here as this is truly the ‘right stuff’."
