(LOT 619)
Extremely Rare Lou Gehrig Type 1 Photo Used for his Iconic 1936 V355 World Wide Gum Card – World Wide Photos – Measures Approx. 4-1/2" x 7" - PSA Type 1 Encapsulation
This "awe-inspiring" Lou Gehrig "portrait" Type 1 image taken by World Wide Photos is the exact illustration utilized for Gehrig's iconic 1936 V355 World Wide Gum baseball card! Encapsulated as a PSA Type 1 photo, one look at this seemingly "timeless" image can literally send a shiver down ones' spine via the immortal Lou Gehrig headshot. The incomparable legacy of Henry Louis Gehrig can be traced back to his Columbia University playing days where Gehrig dominated as both a standout pitcher and slugging first baseman. Catching the attention of renowned New York Yankee scout Paul Krichell, on April 28, 1923 Gehrig hit one of the longest home runs ever seen at Columbia's South Field; a mammoth 450-foot blast that sailed completely out of the ball park.

One of many Lou Gehrig wallops, it was that particular round tripper that "sealed the deal" for Krichell as the prominent scout signed Gehrig to a Yankee contract only two days later. It would be the 1925 season that the "Iron Horse" would enjoy his first breakout season, batting .295 and walloping 20 home runs in nearly 500 plate appearances. Considered one of the game's fearsome sluggers, Gehrig would now embark on one of the most formidable careers in baseball history. This substantiates why period Gehrig collectibles are widely sort after within the collecting community, let alone one that stands as one of his seldom-surfacing mementos used for one of his 1930's issued cards. Indeed, the "Iron Horse's" 1936 V355 subject is one of his most obscure cards extant, with Gehrig's Goudey's, U.S. Caramel and DeLong issues more commonly seen in circulation. This particular 4-1/2" x 7" offering captures Gehrig in a leisurely candid moment and emulates magnificent contrast and clarity, with his good-natured smile "stealing the show".

Aside from a few stray wrinkles near the upper left corners and centering that favors the right edge, this awe-inspiring image has avoided any obtrusive flaws, with the critical "WORLD WIDE PHOTOS" credit stamp affixed to the verso. Tragically, Gehrig's incredible career was cut short by the deadly "ALS" disease (now more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) that took his life at the tender age of 37, and his incomparable farewell "Luckiest Man on the Face of The Earth" speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 will forever be regarded as our National Pastime's Gettysburg Address. We cannot imagine a finer testament to Gehrig's iconic legacy than a world-class 1936 portrait image of the immortal Cooperstown inductee that stands as the irrefutable image used for Lou's Gehrig's highly coveted 1936 V355 World Wide Gum baseball card!

MIN BID $1,000
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