Babe Ruth’s signed contract for his 1920 tour of Cuba with the New York Giants has sold for $118,750.

Ruth was paid $1,000 per game to join the Giants for the tour.

He was at the height of his power at the time, fresh from a powerhouse season with the Yankees that had seen Ruth smash his own home run record.

Babe Ruth played a series of exhibition games in Cuba in 1920

Ruth received $10,000 from the tour, which he and his wife blew over the course of two days in Havana’s infamous casinos.

They reportedly had to wire the Yankees for an advance in order to get home.

Goldin comments: “With the recent warming of U.S.-Cuba relations and the death of Fidel Castro, our national interest in Cuba and the Cuban culture has rarely been greater than it is now.

“Likewise for Cuban-related baseball collectibles - few of which could possibly rival the significance and allure of this treasure from Ruth's meteoric rise to international fame.”

Elsewhere at Goldin Auctions' sale on February 18, a photo signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig realised $37,500.

It’s made out to batboy Joe Glassenberg, who also features in the photo.

Glassenberg maintained equipment for the Yankees between 1926 and 1928, in the midst of the classic Murderer’s Row era.   

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum in Baltimore.  

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