Bat used by the Babe headed for auction

CLEVELAND — The bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium more than 80 years ago is on display at a sports show and could be sold for more than $1 million this year.

The bat is among the memorabilia displayed at The National Sports Collectors Convention, which runs through Sunday.

The owner of the bat, SportsCards Plus, said in June that it planned to auction the bat. On Thursday, Sotheby's said it would handle the auction Dec. 2 in New York.

The only two other pieces of sports memorabilia to eclipse $1 million have been the Honus Wagner T-206 card and Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball. The sale possibly could exceed the original cost to build Yankee Stadium — $2.5 million.

SportsCards Plus auction director Dan Imler, said it's hard to put a price tag on a piece of history.

"Ruth was a man of mythic proportions. More than any other man, he transcended sports, achieving a nearly unrivaled status as an American icon," Imler said. "This bat, the ultimate tool of his trade, is the finest sports artifact we'll see in our lifetime."