Bob Alexander signs "Babe Ruth" Envelope - Autographs

Babe Ruth FDC signed by Bob Alexander. Measures 6 1/2" x 3 3/4". 

George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball(MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", he began his MLB career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. In 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its "first five" inaugural members.

At age seven, Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory where he was mentored by Brother Matthias Boutlier of the Xaverian Brothers, the school's disciplinarian and a capable baseball player. In 1914, Ruth was signed to play minor-league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles but was soon sold to the Red Sox. By 1916, he had built a reputation as an outstanding pitcher who sometimes hit long home runs, a feat unusual for any player in the pre-1920 dead-ball era. Although Ruth twice won 23 games in a season as a pitcher and was a member of three World Series championship teams with the Red Sox, he wanted to play every day and was allowed to convert to an outfielder. With regular playing time, he broke the MLB single-season home run record in 1919.

After that season, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy. The trade fueled Boston's subsequent 86-year championship drought and popularized the "Curse of the Bambino" superstition. In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth helped the team win seven American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships. His big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only drew fans to the ballpark and boosted the sport's popularity but also helped usher in baseball's live-ball era, which evolved from a low-scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor. As part of the Yankees' vaunted "Murderers' Row" lineup of 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, which extended his MLB single-season record by a single home run. Ruth's last season with the Yankees was 1934; he retired from the game the following year, after a short stint with the Boston Braves. Throughout his career, Ruth led the AL in home runs during a season 12 times.

During Ruth's career, he was the target of intense press and public attention for his baseball exploits and off-field penchants for drinking and womanizing. After his retirement as a player, he was denied the opportunity to manage a major league club, most likely due to poor behavior during parts of his playing career. In his final years, Ruth made many public appearances, especially in support of American efforts in World War II. In 1946, he became ill with nasopharyngeal cancer and died from the disease two years later. Ruth remains a part of American culture.

Robert Somerville Alexander (August 7, 1922 – April 7, 1993) was a Canadian professional baseball pitcher. He attended Bethany College in West Virginia. Alexander was signed by the New York Yankees in 1942. However, he did not make his Major League debut until 1955 with the Baltimore Orioles. He also played for the Cleveland Indians and the Toei Flyers of the Nippon Professional Baseball(NPB).

He is the first Canadian player in NPB history.

On top of playing baseball, he was also an Aviation Cadet in the United States Navy during World War II. 

Before entering military service in 1944 Bob pitched for the Butler Yankees of the Class D Pennsylvania State Association and the Amsterdam Rugmakers in the Class C Canadian–American League. In 1943 Bob pitched for the Wellsville Yankees in the Class D Pony League and was 4–3 with a 3.60 ERA.

In 1944 Bob split the season with Wellsville, the Hagerstown Owls of the Interstate League and the Norfolk Tars of the Piedmont League for a combined 6–9 record.

After his service Bob returned to the Norfolk Tars where Bob was 6–5 with a 2.64 ERA and also spent time with the Binghamton Triplets of the Class A Eastern League in 1946. Robert Alexander continued to pitch in the minor leagues with the Denver Bears in the Western League, where Bob was 10–12 with a 4.15 ERA in 1947, and the Beaumont Exporters in the Texas League where Bob was 11–16 with a 3.70 ERA in 1948. In 1949 Bob compiled a record of 8–8 with the Louisville Colonels in the American Association and a record of 12–10 with the Colonels in 1950. Bob threw a no-hitter on July 29, 1950against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

In 1951 Bob was acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers and pitched for the Montreal Royals in the International League, where Bob compiled a 15–9 record with a 3.58 ERA. Bob performed well enough to earn a spot on the spring training roster with the Dodgers in 1952. Bob didn't make the club in '52, instead he was back with Montreal for the regular season and was 8–7 with a 4.34 ERA.

Robert Alexander remained with Montreal in 1953 and after the season, Bob underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. In 1954 Bob was acquired by the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League where Bob finished with a 10–12 record and 3.22 ERA. At the end of the season, Robert Alexander, who was 32 years old at the time, was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles. Robert Alexander made his Major League debut in a relief appearance for the Orioles on April 11, 1955 against the Washington Senators. Bob would make a further three relief outings before returning to Portland in July to record a 10–10 record and excellent 2.66 ERA. Robert Alexander continued to be a stellar pitcher in the Pacific Coast League and got his final shot at the Major Leagues in 1957, when the 35-year-old right-hander joined the Cleveland Indians pitching staff. Robert Alexander made five relief appearances for the Indians to end his Major League career.

Read More

Read Less