(LOT 120)
1929 Lou Gehrig "Hands Holding Bat" Type I Original International Newsreel Photo – Measures Approx. 6" x 8" - Full PSA Type 1 LOA
Along with the incomparable Babe Ruth and Jimmy Foxx, no pre-WWII ballplayer could possibly boast the Goliath-like strength of the Yankees power-hitting first sacker Henry Louis Gehrig who made a career out of crushing baseballs to the furthest confines of ballparks. Gehrig's iconic legacy forever lives in the hearts of avid baseball fans not only due to his remarkable hitting prowess, but more so due to his untimely death at the hands of the incurable ALS disease that claimed his life at the youthful age of 37. Before he was tragically stricken, his sheer power could not possibly be portrayed than this "spine-tingling" "hands on bat" image that closely exhibits how the "Iron Horse" tightly gripped his colossal lumber that wreaked havoc on a seemingly countless number of overmatched hurlers.

Measuring approximately 6" x 8", this outstanding International Newsreel photo was issued on July 2, 1929 and includes a back caption stating Gehrig had tallied a league leading 21 round trippers at this juncture in the season, as well as verifying this immortal batting grip belongs to the "Iron Horse". You can literally feel the intensity of Gehrig's hallowed grip with his hands safely securing the period style bat that led to so many of Lou's colossal blasts. Similar to Ruth's classic grip, you can clearly see that Gehrig held his lumber at the furthest end of the bat, with his right pinky finger actually placed beneath the knob. The 88-year old image has miraculously retained a majority of its original pristine qualities including crystal-clear clarity and near-perfect contrast.

No obtrusive flaws are apparent, with only a peripheral surface blemish situated in the lower right quadrant. The white borders are relatively clean and the verso includes the critical aforementioned caption. With regard to value, while we have not seen a "Gehrig "batting grip" image surface for quite some time, a recent Babe Ruth "Batting Grip" image recently fetched over $25K! Indeed, the hobby is currently realizing stratospheric price tags for world-class photos, and we cannot imagine many surpassing the extraordinary significance of this extremely rare "Hands Holding Bat" masterpiece that conjures up vivid memories of the immortal Gehrig's unparalleled standing in baseball history! - Full PSA Type I LOA

MIN BID $750