(LOT 83)
"Unique for the Grade" 1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ – "POP 1"; Only 4 PSA Examples Graded Higher!
THE IRON HORSE!!! The $147K record sale for a PSA 8 NM-MT 1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig in May 2022 electrified the hobby, once again serving as a sheer reminder of how Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig high-grade rarities know no bounds with respect to their unlimited investment potential. Escalating price tags for some of the hobby's most coveted cards has quickly placed them as not only viable collectibles, but also bona fide commodities. Regarding Gehrig and his ultra-modest personality, he once stated: "I'm not a headline guy. I know that as long I was following Ruth to the plate, I could have stood on my head and no one would have known the difference." Apropos to say the least, this articulate Lou Gehrig quote effectively sums up the decade of time the Yankees' captain played in Babe Ruth's shadow. Fortunately for Lou, this unfathomable PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig offering stands in no one's shadow including the incomparable Bambino, truly meriting its lofty hobby stature. Unique for the grade, its undisputed Pop 1 stature places it as one of the Iron Horse's most significant cardboard heirlooms, only bested by a meager four examples on the illustrious PSA population report!

No esteemed baseball card gathering could possibly be considered complete without a high-grade Lou Gehrig Goudey Gum specimen residing as one of its centerpiece attractions. A top 250 sportscards keepsake, it comes as little surprise that two Gehrig Goudey subjects were included in both the 1933 and 1934 landmark gum sets. Subject #37 includes a Gehrig portrait image while #61 depicts the Iron Horse in a classic batting stance pose. These highly coveted Gehrig cardboard treasures are seldom seen carrying lofty technical assessments, immediately placing this grand memento as one of the Iron Horse's most significant cardboard treasures extant. Ironically, Gehrig would claim the revered Triple Crown in the same year the Goudey Gum Company issued this landmark batting pose subject, with Lou pacing the Junior Circuit in virtually every critical offensive category for the 1934 campaign including average (.363), Home Runs (49), RBIs (166), OBP (.465), SLG (.706), OPS (1.172) and Total Bases (409). Along with Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg, the immortal Gehrig was now regarded as the most feared slugger in baseball, finally removing himself from Babe Ruth's aforementioned shadow since the Sultan of Swat would shuffle off to Boston for the 1935 season and ultimately retire in June '35.

One of our National Pastime's greatest all-time players, Cooperstown inductee Lou Gehrig tallied an outstanding .340 lifetime batting average, 493 round trippers and an unfathomable 13 consecutive seasons in which he batted in 100 runs or more! Additionally, he teamed up with both Babe Ruth and "Joltin' Joe" DiMaggio to ably assist the Yankees in capturing seven world championships over his stellar 17-year MLB career, a sheer testament to his unparalleled leadership and uncanny playing skills. Yet, for all of his seemingly unparalleled batting achievements, he will always be best remembered for his immortal July 4, 1939 "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech at Yankee Stadium when he bid farewell to his teammates and fans due to his tragic ALS illness. While Gehrig's accomplishments certainly didn't require a final exclamation point for additional notoriety, his sudden passing away at the tender age of 37 left an indelible mark within the hearts of every avid baseball fan, and his legacy will echo for eternity. Synonymous with Gehrig's unequivocal immortality are the breathtaking aesthetics of this magnificent gum card that has stubbornly defied father-time for the past 88 years. Gehrig's crystal-clear batting pose is virtually flawless, set against a brilliant cool mint green background and four clean white borders.

Donning his classic Yankees pinstripe flannels and majestic cap, you can literally see the fierce intensity in Gehrig's focused eyes as he zones in on a pitched baseball that may well end-up in the grandstands via his supernatural power. Further highlights include an extremely well-centered images, right-angled corners, a sharp perimeter, a vivid "Lou Gehrig Says…" caption situated in the lower bold blue text box, immaculate surfaces, and the verso's bold green typography. Indeed, this museum worthy masterpiece appears as if a captivated youth has just pulled it from a Goudey wax-pack, effectively turning back the clock to an era when the iconic Gehrig ruled the batter's box in dominant fashion. Firmly standing tall as one of the pinnacle Goudey mementos in this world-class offering, its one of a kind rarity prevents us from utilizing any benchmark pricing. That said, we can only direct your attention to the previously mentioned PSA 8 NM-MT $147K sale, with this 8.5 NM-MT+ Lou Gehrig marvel obviously primed to achieve a price tag well in excess of that figure!.

MIN BID $75,000
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