(LOT 3)
"Fresh to the Hobby" 1934 Goudey #37 SIGNED Lou Gehrig Subject (PSA NM-MT 8 Autograph) – One of Only 5 PSA Authenticated #37 Goudey Signed Gehrig Examples!
This extraordinary 1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig subject has been boldly signed by the "Iron Horse" directly across his hallowed Yankees jersey via black fountain pen, with the illustrious PSA company encapsulating it as a "NM-MT 8" authentic Lou Gehrig script! Considered extremely scare, PSA's "Pop" chart lists only four other signed 1934 Goudey #37 Gehrig subjects, a paltry number to even remotely accommodate the sophisticated collecting community. Fresh to the hobby, this amazing memento was recently unearthed from an East Coast family, who have followed typical protocol and decided to remain anonymous. What we can tell you is the card was allegedly signed by Gehrig at a mid-summer 1935 game played at Yankee Stadium (details of exactly which game were not available), recently authenticated by PSA earlier this Spring. It is no secret that signed Goudey Gehrigs and Ruths have "exploded" with regard to their staggering pricing points, spearheaded by the iconic "Uncle Jimmy Collection" that realized $218K for an autographed 1934 Goudey #37 Gehrig subject in 2020 (with an inferior PSA NM 7 autograph grade).

Certainly not an anomaly, other Uncle Jimmy signed Goudey Gehrig cards (1933 #92 & 1933 #160) have likewise achieved record setting prices of $201K and $195K, respectively, and an autographed 1934 Goudey #37 Gehrig (PSA 7 Auto grade) without any collector provenance realized $150K in a 2020 public auction. Synonymous with a roaring tsunami, the pricing anomalies for these magnificent signed Goudey Gehrigs have literally "leapt off the chart", with newly auctioned examples seemingly setting new records each and every day. It would certainly make sense for these Goudey Ruths and Gehrigs to finally escalate in value, especially considering modern signed cards such as Mike Trout and LeBron James Rookies have fetched unfathomable $3.8 million and $5.2 million figures, respectively. Bottom line is if modern sports heroes such as Trout and James can record historic record-setting pricing, what is the true value for arguably baseball's two finest all-time players such as George Herman Ruth and Henry Louis Gehrig?

The incomparable legacy of Lou 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 Yankees 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 ballpark, prompting Krichell to sign Gehrig to a Yankee contract only two days later. While Gehrig would be called up to the majors before the end of the season, he would see limited time as a pinch hitter in both the 1923 and 1924 seasons, accumulating only 38 official at-bats in those two seasons. 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. Now considered one of the game's fearsome sluggers, Gehrig would embark on one of the most formidable careers in baseball history. One of baseball's greatest all-timers, Gehrig's legendary stature stands right alongside Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, Jackson, Young, Mathewson and Johnson, with his cardboard rarities already realizing remarkable price tags.

The sports memorabilia market is currently in the midst of a pricing frenzy for signed "high-profile" Hall of Famer rarities and most would agree that a PSA 8 scripted 1934 Lou Gehrig Goudey easily stands as one of the most exalted autographed sports cards extant. The card itself was issued during Gehrig's 1934 Triple Crown campaign, when the Iron Horse led the "Junior Circuit" with 49 Homers, 166 R.B.I.'s and a stellar .363 batting average, also adding an A.L. leading 1.172 OPS and 409 total bases to his incredible resume. Widely recognized as Gehrig's most coveted Goudey issue, the #37 1934 Goudey subject has always been a collector favorite, primarily due to his classic portrait image that reveals a super candid Gehrig smile. Bright colors, a refreshingly clean yellow background and no obtrusive blemishes on either side all support the "VG" aesthetics. For full resolution, minor technical flaws include a few light horizontal creases through the center of the card (none of which break the paper), even corner wear and an extremely faint soiling spot situated directly above the right side of Gehrig's cap, with none of these negligible faults negating the splendid presentation of this world-class gem. Most significantly, the imposing PSA NM-MT 8 black fountain pen "Lou Gehrig" signature steals the show, literally jumping off the card and substantiating the notion that this scripted Gehrig offering merits a final resting place in Cooperstown, New York.

In closing, due to Gehrig's unequivocal legacy, any of his autographed collectibles are widely sought-after within the collecting community, let alone one that represents one of his highly coveted 1933 Goudey subjects. Tragically, Gehrig's incredible career was cut short by the deadly "ALS" disease (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) that took his life at the tender age of 37. Yet, with all of his "on the field" accomplishments, he will always be best remembered for his 2,130-consecutive game streak, accounting for his sanctified "Iron Horse" nickname. Furthermore, his incomparable farewell "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 will forever stand as our National Pastime's "Gettysburg Address". He was the quiet hero, simply going about his business with a steadfast purpose that the mere mention of his hallowed name inspires a still tranquility amongst his vast following. Safe to say, the recent signed Gehrig Goudey pricing surge was long overdue, and we can only ponder as to the extraordinary level scripted Gehrig cards will eventually reach since his immortal standing will forever tower above virtually every player who has come before and after this true embodiment of a National hero. Regarding the projected value of this "Iron Horse" museum worthy masterpiece, we will defer to the sophisticated collector to ultimately determine its true worth, keeping in mind this "fresh to the hobby" heirloom boasts a more formidable autograph than the two PSA 7s that sold for $150K and $218K in 2020!

MIN BID $30,000
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