** FAKE **

To say Babe Ruth was a driving force in baseball would be a massive understatement. Yet almost a century ago, the "Sultan of Swat" actually made it onto a steering wheel courtesy of a Saint Louis car dealership and a fateful World Series home run. The story unfolded on October 6, 1926, during Game 4 of the Fall Classic. That afternoon, Ruth established a Series record (tied by future Yankee Reggie Jackson 51 years later) by smashing three home runs at Sportsman's Park. The second bomb that afternoon traveled over 500 feet, bounced onto neighboring Grand Avenue, took out a picture window at the neighboring Wells Motor Company and hit an automobile. Later that day, Ruth visited the establishment and the media turned it into a publicity event, with Ruth even posing for pictures sticking his head through the broken window pane. The dealership wisely capitalized on the free advertising and gifted the Babe with the car he hit in exchange for his endorsement. They even erected a sign that read: "Babe Ruth broke this window." From that point forward, employees at the Wells Motor Company sold inventory with Ruth's likeness, offering customers the option of the Ruth souvenir steering wheel. This is one of those metal wheels, which measures 12" in diameter and shows some oxidation. The Ruth image appears on a circular enamel plate with raised bronze image of the icon superimposed over a Chevrolet. BABE RUTH and WELLS MOTOR COMPANY are printed on the top and bottom, respectively.