LOT #80049 |
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1939 Lou Gehrig Single Signed Baseball, PSA EX-MT+ 6.5....
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Sold on Aug 21, 2021 for:
$180,000.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
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Description
One of the very last singles from the noble Iron Horse...
1939 Lou Gehrig Single Signed Baseball, PSA EX-MT+ 6.5. The
figural stars framing the Official American League (Harridge)
stamping are the key ingredient here, the tell-tale sign that
establishes this exceedingly rare single as one of the very last
ever autographed by the dying Iron Horse. For years, the hobby had
been misinformed about the debut of this stamping format, with most
jumping to the reasonable but incorrect conclusion that the change
was made in 1940, when this stamping style became standard format
for Junior Circuit horsehide. But our authenticators, and our own
research, confirm that the first examples surfaced no later than
July 11, 1939, when a number of All-Star Game balls were signed on
the very field where Gehrig had given his tearful Yankee Stadium
farewell a week earlier. The legendary first baseman was likewise
on hand for the Midsummer Classic, as honorary captain of the
American League, and appears in genuine format on some of those
team balls signed that day.There is no dispute about the rarity of a 1939 Gehrig autograph--never one to seek out the spotlight, the Iron Horse retreated even further into the shadows as his illness progressed, and was all but incapacitated by the start of the new decade. Collectors properly assign a considerable premium to those few Centennial season offerings from the iconic Yankee, and almost none could compete with the presented model, featuring a rare sweet spot application. One could reasonably infer from this placement that Gehrig was reluctantly acknowledging his leading role in the events surrounding the autograph session, quite possibly either his Independence Day "Luckiest Man" farewell or his All-Star team captaincy the following Tuesday. His black fountain pen ink is rated 7 by the experts at PSA and the ball a 5, with a half-point addition for strong visual appeal completing the EX-MT+ 6.5 assessment.
Firsts and lasts always demand special attention, and never is this more fitting for a man who built his immortality on a foundation of quiet durability, and the remarkable grace of his exit. Full Grading LOA from PSA/DNA, EX-MT+ 6.5. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction Info
2021 August 21 - 22 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction #50045 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2021
21st-22nd
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 48
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,582
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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