(LOT 926)
Lou Gehrig Autographed 5" x 6" Original Photo Incl. HOF Signatures of Lazzeri, Medwick, Maranville, McCarthy, Combs, & McKechnie on the Verso! - Full JSA /James Spence LOA
It was Lou Gehrig's gentleness and consummate professionalism that makes him one of baseball's greatest heroes ever, justifying why advanced autograph and photo collectors actively seek his signature and prominent photos. Unfortunately, due to his untimely death, there simply aren't enough autographs to accommodate the prolific collector community, let alone a signed original photo such as this outstanding Lou Gehrig scripted offering. Signed in blue steel-tip fountain pen, this spectacular original "Iron Horse" black & white image portrays Gehrig wearing his spring training wind-breaker jacket in a stoic "hands on hips" pose. Measuring approximately 5" x 6", you can literally sense Gehrig's good-natured personality as he dons his Yankee pinstripe pants and first sacker glove on his right hand.

The hallowed signature presents itself in "EX/MT 6" strength and is situated across his renowned pantaloons, with several period-style cars positioned behind him. While the photo reveals a number of stray creases/wrinkles none of them negatively impact the stellar aesthetics of Gehrig's classic central image that has somehow remained relatively unscathed. While the Lou Gehrig autograph is obviously the key component of this magnificent keepsake, as a further treat, the verso reveals an abundance of additional signatures including Hall of Famers Tony Lazzeri, Joe Medwick, Rabbit Maranville, Joe McCarthy, Earl Combs, and B. McKechnie. Other pertinent scripts include Dixie Walker, Red Rolfe, Wally Berger, Rudy Moore, Huck Betts, Les Mallon, Jack Rothrock, Ed Brandt, and Frank Hogan. While this vast array of autographs including 6 additional Cooperstown inductees is indeed impressive, it is the majestic Lou Gehrig signature on the obverse side that is the key to this magnificent heirloom.

Some 78 years after his tragic death, Gehrig is still the recipient of a Nation's unconditional love and admiration, with his incomparable farewell "Luckiest Man On The Face Of The Earth" speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 forever standing as our National Pastime's Gettysburg Address. The unique combination of his superior "on the field" achievements and, more significantly, Gehrig defining the ultimate embodiment of courage, have placed him at an unequivocal level with hobby enthusiasts. Lou Gehrig left an indelible mark on the game itself, and his heroism will forever place him amongst Cooperstown's most prominent inductees. With that in mind, no "Iron Horse" artifact could possibly be more desirable than a signed "Iron Horse" image that would immediately be one of the main attractions in any "World Class" compilation!

MIN BID $1,500

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