Auction Item Details
Lot 866
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Lot Number: 866
Description: Very scarce 1923 New York Yankees team auto. baseball with provenance from Lou Gehrig. Incredible collection of items from the family of Arthur Bajart, Sr. who was classmate and friend of Gehrig's at Columbia University. Offered is an off white B.Johnson AL ball signed by (27) members of the World Champion Yankees incl. Ruth, Huggins, Hoyt, Pennock, Shawkey, Pipgras, Schang, Witt, Ward, Meusel, Bengough, and amazingly Lou Gehrig who played only (13) games in the 1923 season. Signatures range from 2/3-7 with the majority grading 5 or better. Even more amazingly then Gehrig signing the ball in the first place is the fact that he signed right next to Babe Ruth just to the left of the sweet spot. 1923 was the first World Championship for the Yankees and team signed baseballs from that year are highly prized and sought after. To the best of our knowledge this is only the second known 1923 Yankees team signed baseball with Lou Gehrig. In addition to the ball the lot contains a 1928 handwritten and signed postcard sent to Bajart from Gehrig which reads, "Sure glad you dropped a line. Thanks for calling home. Why not drop up there sometime. Best to your mother and sister.-Lou". Gehrig also wrote a comical notation, "VERY TIRED & LAZY" as he was in St. Petersburg, FL for Spring Training (Has a tape repaired corner not affecting writing/signature). Five original photographs are also included picturing Lou Gehrig with Arthur Bajart/Gehrig and a woman/Gehrig portrait photo. All of the images appear to date from the early to mid 1920's. Upon the birth of Arthur Bajart, Jr. on May 16, 1931 Gehrig (who was named Godfather) gave this baseball to the junior Bajart for his birth. The ball and related items are being offered for the first time publicly and have been in the possession of the original family until this current sale. With regard to the rarity of such pieces in today's market and given the unimpeachable provenance of the ball and signed postcard we would place this Yankees inaugural Championship season auto. ball among the finest offered to date. Includes letter of provenance from Bajart family and LOA from PSA/DNA J.Spence-S.Grad: Ball: EX, Signatures: Range GD-EX, Signed postcard: EX, (5) Photographs: Range VG-EX/MT
Estimated Price: ($15,000.00-$20,000.00)
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