1939 Lou Gehrig Signed Four-Page Letter to His Mayo Clinic Doctor Discussing His Illness, PSA/DNA Mint 9....

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With "A specimen of my handwriting" to chart his decline...

1939 Lou Gehrig Signed Four-Page Letter to His Mayo Clinic Doctor Discussing His Illness, PSA/DNA Mint 9.

UPDATE: This was one of Lou Gehrig's doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

Lengthy and heartbreaking correspondence finds the noble Iron Horse putting on a brave face nearly five months after his famous "Luckiest Man" farewell at Yankee Stadium. Collectors are well aware that examples of Gehrig's signature virtually disappear after that tear-drenched Independence Day rally, and this is the latest representation that Heritage has had the privilege to present.

The hundreds of words of Gehrig's typed text offer a deeply personal insight into the notoriously private legend, exposing a sense of humor rarely exhibited, and a mental and physical toughness known to all. We can see that the Iron Horse took a very active role in the hopeless fight against his namesake disease, discussing variation medications and his specific symptoms, lamenting increasing pains in his back and further weakness of his grip.

He speaks of an acquaintance he understands to be suffering from the same ailment, and the remarkable improvements that person has demonstrated, but Gehrig most desperately seeks the truth, regardless of how cold and hard that truth might be:

"...I am mentioning these facts to find out from a truthful organization what your experiences have been and what my hope for encouragement is...Al Reiser told me that the big thing I need now with my excellent attention is courage. I do not want to be a hero, and I would hate like hell to be a cry baby, but I would also like to know the facts if any..."

The fourth page of Gehrig's personal letterhead concludes the letter with a pencil signature which any veteran autograph collector will recognize as evidence of the brave slugger's tragic decline. His text below, "A specimen of my handwriting for Dr. Waltman," likewise lacks the firmness of his playing-days examples.

Each page measures 10x6.75" and presents virtually flawlessly, with original mailing folds and staple holes at upper left. Full Grading LOA from PSA/DNA, Mint 9.