Lot # 151: 1919 Babe Ruth "Batterin' Babe (Look At Him Now)" Sheet Music

Starting Bid: $100.00

Bids: 53 (Bid History)

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Item was in Auction "Spring, 2024 Premier Auction",
which ran from 3/11/2024 12:00 AM to
3/30/2024 9:00 PM



Published in 1919, "Batterin' Babe - Look at him Now" by Jack O'Brien and Billy Timmons contains these lyrics:

He hears the call and then the ball goes sailin' in the sky
A mile away it kills a cow (wow)
And if a bandit on the border gets a baseball in the eye
Put the blame on Babe.  Look at him now (wow).

Not exactly Cole Porter, the interesting thing about "the home run hit of the season" is how it refers specifically to Ruth's batting prowess, despite the fact that the Babe was still a sometime pitcher in 1919, hurling in 17 games that season and 20 in 1918.  The lyrics refer specifically to Boston.  We cannot locate reliable information on specifically when in 1919 the song was published, so we will assume it occurred after the season in which Ruth led the league in home runs for the second consecutive season.  The front cover, of course, pictures a well-known image of Ruth in his Red Sox uniform, with a facsimile signature underneath.  This example is well-worn with folding and creasing throughout, with notable wear at the top edge.  Despite the wear, outstanding display value.  Approximately 9 1/4" x 12 1/2".

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