(LOT 240)
1928 Tharp's Ice Cream #26 Lou Gehrig SGC 5 EX - "POP 1"; Highest Graded SGC Example!
IRON HORSE "POP 1"!!!... By 1928, Henry Louis Gehrig and Babe Ruth were the toast of the Big Apple. This dynamic slugging duo would captivate a nation in 1927, running away with a World Series title and Gehrig earning the AL MVP Award. The Yankees would ultimately repeat this in 1928, sweeping the Cardinals in four straight games to continue their momentous dynasty. Gehrig's incredible popularity would lead to a number of manufacturers utilizing his image on baseball cards to promote their brand. During the 1928 campaign, a number of distinguished ice cream companies issued baseball cards with their sweet tooth products including Yuengling's, Tharp's and Harrington's. Designated as F50s, the cards in these obscure 60-card sets measure approximately 1-3/8" x 2-1/2", and are strikingly similar to the 1927 York Caramels and 1928 W502 issues.

The two most coveted subjects are Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and the rarest of these three issues is easily Tharp's, with any examples from this eclectic set seldom surfacing in any grade. That said, presented here is an outstanding SGC 5 EX Tharp's Ice Cream #26 Iron Horse marvel that strands alone as the highest graded SGC example. Indeed, of the meager seven SGC encapsulated copies (substantiating Tharp's extreme scarcity), this SGC 5 prize is synonymous with Gehrig's all-time first base standing as the finest of its kind! Furthermore, its closest SGC competitor is a measly 2.5 specimen, with this remarkable 5 EX keepsake easily outdistancing its competition. Gehrig's classic portrait pose reveals brilliant contrast and clarity, with its only notable flaw being its partiality towards the left edge. No obtrusive blemishes are evident on either side, with the grade primarily due to even corner wear and some faint toning. The final compliment is the verso's redemption advertisement, with the capability of trading in all 60 subjects for a gallon of Tharp's ice cream. SGC's best of the rest Tharp's Gehrig resides as the perfect testament for his immortal stature via its undisputed place at the top of the SGC Pop Chart!

MIN BID $1,500
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