(LOT 638)
1938 Lou Gehrig Classic Batting Swing – PSA Type I Wide World Photos – Measures Approx. 7" x 9" – PSA Type 1 Encapsulation
The legacy of Henry Louis Gehrig is virtually unparalleled in Major League History, with the "Iron Horse" widely considered the greatest 1st baseman in baseball history. The powerful slugger belted 493 home runs, knocked in nearly 2,000 runs, posted a sensational .340 lifetime average, won a Triple Crown (1934) and incredibly knocked in over 100 runs in 13 consecutive seasons! His list of world-class achievements is seemingly infinite, and yet, for all of his batting accomplishments, Gehrig's immortal stature is still linked to his unfathomable 2,130 consecutive game streak that came to an abrupt end in 1939 via the incurable ALS disease that claimed his life in 1941.

It was that illness that eventually led to his incomparable "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech on July 4, 1939 that still resides as baseball's "Gettysburg address". No wonder elite hobbyists actively pursue his high-end collectibles, with this breathtaking 7" x 9" batting image destined to find a permanent home in any sophisticated photo gathering. Taken by the Wide World Photos News Service on May 29, 1938, it resides as one of the finest Gehrig batting photos we have ever encountered, with the 1938 campaign ultimately being Gehrig's final full season. In 1938, the Yankees would win their third consecutive championship and Gehrig would extend his consecutive game hit streak to over 2,000 games; however, the last few months of the year saw the 'Iron Horses" batting prowess significantly taper with nobody possibly realizing he was in the early stages of his tragic ALS disease.

Measuring 7' x 9", Gehrig is completing his mighty swing during batting practice directly before a game to be played at Yankee Stadium. Lou is donning his classic Yankee pinstripes, and you can see the renowned "World's Fair" patch on his left sleeve that was used during the 1938 season to promote the legendary 1939 Fair. This seemingly "larger than life" offering is absolutely breathtaking via its outstanding contrast and resolution that showcases Gehrig's revered swinging pose in an almost "3-D" fashion. No obtrusive creasing and/or surface blemishes are evident, and the verso includes the critical WIDE WORLD PHOTOS credit stamp as well as the aforementioned May 29, 1938 stamp. A simply magnificent batting image of the iconic Lou Gehrig, it stands as a sheer reminder of all the supreme attributes the truly courageous "Iron Horse" represents, with his hallowed stature destined to "echo for eternity"!

MIN BID $500
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