Auction Item Details
Lot 215
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Lot Number: 215
Description: Rare and Exceptional Lou Gehrig Professional Model Baseball Bat c.1938 (Small Signature Variant)(PSA GU 8.5). Lou Gehrig's hitting prowess might perhaps be best described as lethal. The Iron Horse terrified and humbled American League pitchers between 1925 and 1939 with consistent and relentless power in a truly unprecedented form. Gehrig won the AL MVP Award twice, led the AL in HRs three times, led the AL in RBIs 5 times, 1934 AL Batting champion, 1934 Triple Crown award winner, 7 time AL All-Star, and 6 Time World Champion. No player before or since has demonstrated such an all encompassing resume notably during a period of exceptional play in the American League with dozens of legendary players. In 1939, Gehrig faced his most significant opponent to date. Shortly after discovering he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig removed himself from the Yankees lineup on May 2, 1939. On July 4th of that same year the Yankees honored Gehrig with an incredible on field celebration attended by teammates, former colleagues, and dignitaries alike. It was on this day that Gehrig delivered his famed "Luckiest Man" speech. In his remarks, Gehrig expressed concern not for his own well-being, but for his team, his teammates, and his wife, concluding with, "When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know. So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for..." His humility in the face of such an insurmountable adversity was regarded by his peers as virtually immortal. Fitting for a man of Gehrig's integrity, the "Iron Horse" succumbed to the horrid disease on June 2, 1941, at 10:10 p.m., sixteen years to the day after he had first replaced Wally Pipp as first baseman for the New York Yankees. The model by which Gehrig played the game, and more importantly, lived his life, is a standard that even many of the greatest players in history have not achieved. It is for those reasons that treasured pieces of Lou Gehrig's garner such passionate interest from the collecting public. Lou Gehrig professional model game bats of any type are noted for their rarity with scant few becoming available to the collecting public. However, there is a particular variant which draws a concisely different level of attention on the exceedingly infrequent occasions when they are offered. During a portion of Gehrig's career in the 1930s he specifically ordered his game model Louisville Slugger bats to carry a facsimile signature stamping in the manner of his actual autograph. It is these particular specimens which cause collectors to take heed of a rare opportunity and have been branded by same as a "small signature" style Lou Gehrig game bat. Louisville Slugger 125 model bat measures 35" in length and weighs 35.5oz. The knob end of the bat displays its original "5 1/2" stamp on the knob end indicative of the bat weight. These stampings perfectly match the Gehrig bat specifications within the Hillerich & Bradsby Co. factory records. Noted on August 2nd, 1938 when four bats at 35.5 ounces each were ordered with specific notes to "Mark Wts, On End". It is the only 35 1/2 ounce order for Gehrig during the referenced labeling period allowing us to specifically date the bat to his 1938 season. Evident use is superbly displayed in the form of grain swelling, ball and stitching impressions, green and red rack marks, and an expertly professional repair to handle crack undoubtedly as a result from Gehrig's punishing blows. In our 33 year company history we have personally handled one other such small signature Gehrig bat. The overall population of similar examples of quality stands at a single digit figure. The offered example entered the hobby many years ago originating from a baseball related family in the New Jersey area according to the current owner. Outstanding investment grade Gehrig equipment artifact of the highest desirability and rarity. Includes LOA from PSA (GU 8.5): EXEstimated Price Range: ($500,000-$750,000)
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