Texas man buys car once owned by Babe Ruth

AP ^ | October 17, 2012

[ConservativeStatement]

AMARILLO, Texas — For an astronaut it's the moon. For a jockey it's the Kentucky Derby.

For Pampa's Lonnie Shelton — and baseball fans across the nation — the ride of a lifetime is a regal blue 1948 Lincoln Continental two-door hardtop coupe.

"The first time I saw the car," Shelton said, "I fell in love with it. I bet I stayed there two hours looking at it, sitting in it, asking questions about it. There are several 1948 Lincoln Continentals out there, but none like this one."

[ConservativeStatement]

The old man on Pawn Stars would have been delirious.

[Pearls Before Swine]

The Babe died in 1948, so a 1948 car of his could be in totally cherry condition, as well as a piece of history due to his ownership.

[grobdriver]

I bet I stayed there two hours looking at it, sitting in it, asking questions about it.

I bet there wasn't much bargaining with the seller after that!

[cripplecreek]

Might be a good time to stat buying Justin Verlander memorabilia for your grandkids. He’s going to break all the records before he’s done.

[SES1066]

I do not know if this is the same gent in this picture but the photo is from the Lubbock Texas paper.

[ConservativeStatement]

I think I would have had a similar reaction to a GTO on the Counting Cars show on History Channel. :-)

[wizr]

Photos @ link:
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-10-15/pampa-man-buys-ride-lifetime

But, apparently you must sign in to see slide show.

[count-your-change]

So what if Ruth once owned it? A nice car but what does it really have to do with Ruth’s career? Or baseball in general? Is it somehow involved in a game or the history of baseball? No, No, and No.

At least a piece of equipment, a glove or bat owned or used by Ruth is relevant to what Ruth is famous for, baseball, but a car? Maybe the buyer feels he has a “Holy Relic”.

[EggsAckley]

He will become his local bar’s expert on Everything Ruth. A real time Cliff Claven.

[School of Rational Thought]

It is as valuable as if a John Voight owned LeBaron

[count-your-change]

I wonder if the buyer has pictures of Ruth with the car or maybe Ruth's signature on a form connected with the car. That would at least make some connection to a collector.

What next? Paving stones from the streets the car rolled over?

Or....Oh Joy of Joys!...the new owner could charge for the privilege of touching the car and for the big payers the once in a lifetime chance to sit inside.