A catcher's mitt Babe Ruth wore while playing for his high school baseball team in 1912 is up for auction.

In 1902, at the age of seven, Ruth's parents sent him to the incredibly tough sounding St Mary's Industrial School for Boys in Baltimore.

Ruth wore the glove while playing in the high school leagues

There he met Brother Matthias Boutlier, the priest and baseball enthusiast who sparked his interest in the game.

St Mary's played in a highly competitive baseball league against other schools and Ruth - then a catcher - quickly established himself as the best player.

He used the glove up until 1914, when he began playing in the minor leagues and gave it away to a friend.

It's interesting to note that even though Ruth was left handed, the glove is actually right handed.

He used to remove the glove after catching in order to throw the ball.  

The glove easily has the potential to sell for $1m when it crosses the block at Goldin Auctions in New York on April 30.

This would place it in the top echelons of Babe Ruth memorabilia. The record is $4.4m, for a jersey he wore during his first season with the Yankees in 1920.

The sale will also feature a phenomenal artefact from baseball's early years.

Another Babe Ruth baseball glove, dating to the 1920s and from the collection of talk show host Joe Franklin, is offered at Saco River Auction later today.  

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