This pair of items celebrating Ruth's undying love for children includes an OAL(Harridge) baseball signed and inscribed by Ruth as well as an original black-and-white news service photograph depicting an event from which the ball likely hails. The remarkable clean sphere bears Ruth's warm inscription which reads: "Merry Xmas to Tommy Wilson - From Babe Ruth - 1947." The accompanying 8 3/8" by 8 1/8" photo reveals a beaming Ruth in a Santa Claus suit embracing one youngster on his lap while others look on awed as though they're aware of the legend at handdespite their youthful ages. The image was captured and published in December 1947 (as evidenced by the stamping on a caption adhered to the reverse). Evenly trimmed at the right the photo presents minimally in excellent condition with crazing throughout a few scattered creases and grease pencil editorial notations about the periphery. Unbeknownst to Ruth he had been diagnosed with cancer in the spring of '47 as doctors found a malignant growth in the left side of his neck. Ruth was initially unaware of the seriousness of his condition and nobody told him. Said biographer Bob Considine "If he knew he had terminal cancer it would destroy him." Thus Ruth carried onliving life to fullest extent his failing health would allow. The entirety of Ruths inscription on this ball rates 8/10. Ball itself is EX-MT to NM.

Full LOA from PSA/DNA.