This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/16/2015
When Babe Ruth played his last game on May 15th, 1935, smashing three home runs to bring his grand total to 714, many baseball experts thought "The Bambino" had set a mark that could never be broken. In the decades to follow, players named Foxx, Mathews and Mantle posed serious challenges to steal the Babe's crown, each reaching their 33th birthday with more career round-trippers than Ruth. But each would eventually fall, failing to keep up with Ruth's 38 home run pace over the final five full seasons of his career. Milwaukee slugger Hank Aaron was in that company as well, but after falling off the pace, was thought to be just another great home run hitter that was destined to come up short. But age didn't catch up to Aaron as quickly as the others, and his career-high 47 homers at the age of 37 was followed by 116 more dingers over the next 5 season, vaulting "the Hammer" to an all-time record that had stood for more than four decades. Presented is an historical piece that could command a place in Coopertown's Baseball of Fame; a 1960's game-worn Hank Aaron batting helmet, part of the prestigious Delbert Mickel collection. Put into service when the chase for the all-time home run crown was starting to become serious, this size 7 1/8 helmet has the classic red and white Braves colors and exhibits plenty of game use, with pine tar residue on the logo and wear present throughout the inner lining. A black marker "44" appears on the top padding with "Aaron" on a side pad as well as on a label located on the back of the helmet. Aaron's signature appears on the red bill of the helmet. An incredible piece of baseball history!