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Babe Ruth signed photo - Real or Not? - Do you believe the story?

I found this Babe Ruth signed photo that sold on eBay recently for $2045. It had one bid. The autograph was not authenticated. Do think it's authentic. And do you believe the seller's story? I am not making any accusations. Just want to know what the people here think. So here's the seller's account:

"This is an Original autographed Babe Ruth 8x10 photograph.

This photograph has been in my family since it was signed in 1948. My Great-Grandmother ( Hannah Gesetz) was admitted in Sloan-Kettering Hospital at the same time The Babe was hospitalized with throat Cancer. Hannah had breast cancer and she lived until 1956. My family's last name was Gesetz but because of our Jewish heritage it was changed to its current more Americanized name. I will be happy to provide my last name only to those who are genuinely interested in purchasing this photograph.

My grandmother, Sally who passed away in November 2000 was present when Babe came into the hospital room to sign the photo. She was approximately 18 yrs old and later married my grandfather Sidney who was Hannah's son. Sidney died in 1987.
My grandmother told me shortly before she passed that The Babe came to Hannah's room with this photo and signed it for her. We believe she was in the hospital in July or August 1948 from my Grandmothers best recollection. This photograph was on display in the Babe Ruth Museum in 1995-1996. I had the plaque from the display but it has been lost.

Please contact me with any reasonable offers. I am selling this to provide funds for my children's college. No international shipping."

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Permalink Reply by James on September 13, 2014 at 11:48am

Here is a closer pic of the autograph.

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Permalink Reply by Randy on September 13, 2014 at 12:42pm

Not authentic IMO. My guess is that someone signed this photo for Ruth and took it to the hospital room and probably told them Ruth signed it.

There are many proxy autographs of Ruth in his last days and this certainly looks like one of them. The inscription and autograph are way off from authentic examples.

Seller probably believes the story they were told.

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Permalink Reply by heath emery on September 13, 2014 at 12:47pm

Good call! Right on.

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Permalink Reply by James on September 13, 2014 at 1:45pm

I think you're right, Randy. That very well may have been the case. There are people selling autographs that think that what they received was authentic, never thinking that someone else may have signed for the person.

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Permalink Reply by heath emery on September 13, 2014 at 11:59am

Is this even the proper ink for the time period? It has permeated the paper I think. Not unless there is some sorta process forgers use to make this effect happen. Some type of chemical wash?

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Permalink Reply by James on September 13, 2014 at 12:07pm

I was wondering the same thing about the ink. I'm trying to decide if it is fountain pen, which it pretty much would have to be if it's legit. Also, the "To" doesn't look right, and the autograph doesn't exactly look spot on. However, I'm keeping in mind that, if real, Babe signed this when he was really sick. Of course, that fact could affect his signature and writing.

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Permalink Reply by heath emery on September 13, 2014 at 12:19pm

Is there any proof of it being displayed at the hall of fame? If I had something on display ther id snap a photo or 2.

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Permalink Reply by James on September 13, 2014 at 12:26pm

Oh, very true. You would think the seller would have had a pic of it being on display there. And maybe they did. I don't know. But if I were the buyer, I think I would ask about that. And I would think a potential buyer could send a pic to the HOF and ask for verification.

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Permalink Reply by heath emery on September 13, 2014 at 12:30pm

Yes for sure. We are talking big money here and This would be a big decision. I guess also it would come down to where the provenance is. Also no type of authentication at all? Strange.....

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Permalink Reply by Dom Vito Castiglione on September 13, 2014 at 12:34pm

Get in touch with the Ruth musuem and find out

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Permalink Reply by heath emery on September 13, 2014 at 12:38pm

Very good point! If someone were to purchase it this would be a good thing to do. Plus owners of museums or managers tend to stay in that building for a long time. Someone there would know about it.