(LOT 313)
1932 U.S. Caramel #26 Lou Gehrig (SGC NM/MT 8) - "1 of 2 SGC Examples; NONE Graded Higher on the Combined SGC & PSA "Pop" Charts!!
One of the most underrated and obscure Lou Gehrig cards ever manufactured is the 1932 U.S. Caramel Gehrig subject. The somewhat scarce 1932 US Caramel set is certainly one of the more nebulous Caramel issues, and more significantly, the last major Caramel set ever distributed. Along with Babe Ruth, its most prestigious subject is the immortal Yankees 1st baseman, Henry Louis Gehrig, and it is his 1932 U.S. Caramel card presented here in an extraordinary SGC NM/MT 8 holder. Seldom surfacing at the lofty "NM/MT" grade, only a single other SGC example has managed to achieve this hallowed assessment, with NONE graded higher on the combined SGC and PSA "Pop" Charts! Indeed, synonymous with the "Iron Horse's" unparalleled standing as baseball's finest 1st baseman of all-time is this miraculous offering that likewise shares the distinction as the "best of the rest"!
The significantly underrated U.S. Caramel Gehrig is synonymous with Lou taking a backseat to Ruth most of his career. Consider its scant existence versus the abundant 1933/'34 Goudey Gehrig's that are now achieving staggering pricing upticks. At the time this was written, there was only 44 Caramel Gehrig's encapsulated by SGC, with an abundant 1,591 SGC Goudey Gehrig's for all 4 subjects issued in 1933 and 1934 (an average of some 398 per subject!). Simple math tells us that the 1932 U.S. Caramel Gehrig SGC population is only 11% of a single "Iron Horse" Goudey subject, substantiating why this magnificent SGC NM/MT 8 example is a monumental offering! All prominent baseball historians agree that Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig is the greatest 1st baseman who ever graced a baseball diamond. Unfortunately for Gehrig, rather than his incomparable batting accomplishments including a remarkable 13 consecutive RBI seasons and .340 lifetime batting average, he is best remembered for his tragic illness and "Luckiest Man on The Face of The Earth" speech that will forever be classified as baseball's "Gettysburg Address".
His beloved persona and iconic stature have triggered hobbyists to relentlessly pursue his rarest cardboard artifacts with this offering certainly near the top of the list. Super popular with collectors is the stoic Gehrig portrait image that reveals pristine-like attributes, a relatively well-centered illustration that reflects modest partiality towards the lower edge, and a striking red background. Providing additional desirability is the "Henry (Lou) Gehrig" caption situated directly above his head since nearly all Gehrig cards did not utilize his "Henry" birth name. Sharp perimeter edging, pinpoint corners, bright white borders, brilliant surfaces and a super clean verso complete this "rare for the grade" marvel that is a near-impossible find exhibiting the finest "NM/MT 8" assessment. Most advanced enthusiasts would surely agree that the price tags for this significantly undervalued "highest graded example" will continue soaring like an ICBM missile, justifying its status as one of the finest "Iron Horse" investment cards on the planet!
MIN BID $7,500
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