(LOT 507)
1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig PSA 7 NM
PSA 7 IRON HORSE!!! This highly coveted Lou Gehrig #37 Goudey portrait resides in an outstanding PSA 7 NM holder, one of the minimal 3% of total PSA encapsulated examples managing to achieve the hallowed near-mint assessment. One of Lou Gehrig's most treasured gum cards distributed during the height of his remarkable playing days, save for the 1925 Gehrig rookie card, his 1934 Goudey #37 marvel arguably resides as his most sought-after cardboard keepsake. Inexplicably to a host of passionate young bubble gum card collectors, the legendary Babe Ruth was omitted from the 1934 Goudey issue, with its two most popular subjects representing the Yankees immortal first sacker Henry Louis Gehrig, who made a grand appearance on cards #37 and #61. Larrupin' Lou would justify the Goudey Gum Company's decision to place two of his subjects in their 1934 compilation by claiming baseball's highly exalted Triple Crown. Indeed, the '34 campaign would see Gehrig lead the American League in virtually every vital batting statistic, including average (.363), home runs (49), RBIs (166), OBP (.465), SLG (.706), OPS (1.172) and total bases (409).

Due to Babe Ruth's diminishing skill sets, the Yankee Captain had now clearly become the Big Apple's toast of the town, with Gehrig finally appreciated for his remarkable batting feats. This spectacular PSA 7 marvel likewise stands tall amongst its many inferior peers, boasting an amazing array of technical attributes that justify the lofty assessment. The classic Gehrig portrait pose emanates sparkling facial hues, bright white borders, and square corners revealing ever-so-slight wear consistent with the assessment, with all of these attributes portraying pack-fresh eye appeal rarely offered on this world-class keepsake. Most significantly, the nearly flawless radiant yellow background jumps off the card, ably assisting Gehrig's iconic pose in emanating 3D aesthetics. No obtrusive flaws are evident on either side, with the only notable flaws being a few microscopic soiling spots situated on the upper right borders, as well as the image favoring the lower right edges. Yet, as most collectors surely realize, locating a near-perfectly centered image for the #37 Goudey Gehrig is a near-impossible task, with virtually all of these subjects reflecting skewed illustrations.

A collector favorite for many years via its imposing portrait pose, it possibly resides as the most coveted of the four different Gehrig Goudey subjects issued over a two-year period (1933-34). Lou Gehrig's spectacular on the field achievements and his unbridled courage prompting his "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech on July 4, 1939, have placed his cards at an unequivocal exalted level. Gehrig left an indelible mark on the game itself, and his inspiring heroism will forever place him among Cooperstown's most prominent inductees. No wonder a host of hobbyists' scramble to capture Lou's most prestigious cards issued during his playing days, with their overall desirability and investment potential standing at a boundless level. Most would agree that only a handful of cards could possibly transcend the Iron Horse's timeless legacy more effectively than this quintessential PSA 7 Gehrig heirloom that has stubbornly defied the past 90 years, anxiously awaiting a new home in an esteemed Gehrig gathering!

MIN BID $7,500
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