Babe Ruth’s First Home Run Ball Is At The Bottom of Lake Ontario
There is a baseball that lies somewhere on the bottom of Lake Ontario that is absolutely priceless and, although it's said to have been down there for 109 years, could be the most expensive ball if it's ever found. But don't hold your breath because finding a baseball after that much time, who knows what kind of condition it would be in, let alone being able to find it.
But why is it so valuable? Because it was Babe Ruth's first home run ball.
Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run at Hanlan’s Point Stadium in Toronto. It landed in Lake Ontario and is believed to still be there. This was while Babe was in the minor leagues, and was in fact his only minor league home run, as a plaque near the site of the old ballfield commemorates the accomplishment:
As a 19-year-old rookie, playing for the Providence Grays in the International League, he connected with a pitch from Ellis Johnson of the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending the ball over the fence in right field and scoring three runs. Pitching for the Grays, Ruth allowed only one hit, earning the title "southside phenom" from the Toronto Daily Star. The final score was Providence Grays 9, Toronto Maple Leafs 0. Babe Ruth quickly moved up to the major leagues and played his way to a phenomenal career.
Some accounts say the ball actually landed in the bleachers, but the lore of the game has taken on a life of its own. The old ballfield was located on Centre Island which is near the Northwest point of the westernmost Great Lake. If you can handle the temps and can find some scuba gear to borrow, you could possibly own a priceless baseball relic.