(LOT 136)
1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig PSA 7 NM
NEAR-MINT IRON HORSE!!! This spectacular PSA 7 NM 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig has only been bested by a mere 5% of the 830+ PSA encapsulated examples! A top 250 Sportscards keepsake, it comes as little surprise that two Gehrig Goudey subjects were included in both the 1933 and 1934 landmark bubble gum sets, with the incomparable George Herman "Babe" Ruth inexplicably omitted from this classic compilation. Gehrig would claim the revered Triple Crown the same year this Goudey Gum was issued, with the Iron Horse 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). The Yankee Captain was now the toast of the Big Apple, with Babe Ruth's diminishing skill sets ultimately leading to Colonel Ruppert trading the Bambino to the Boston Braves after the 1934 campaign. Along his glorious career, Gehrig teamed up with Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio to ably assist the Yankees in capturing seven world championships, a sheer testament to his unparalleled leadership and uncanny playing skills that led to 493 homers, 1,995 RBIs and an extraordinary .340 lifetime batting average.

Add in the fact that Gehrig posted a record 13 consecutive seasons of batting in more than 100 runs, and you can clearly understand why many historians consider him one of baseball's top five all-time sluggers. Yet, he will always be best remembered for his iconic 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 ALS illness. Gehrig's sudden passing 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 his unbridled immortality are the breathtaking aesthetics of this Goudey keepsake that has stubbornly defied time for the past 89 years. Gehrig's crystal-clear batting pose is virtually flawless, set against a brilliant mint green background. 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 with his supernatural power. Like most 1934 Gehrig Goudey subjects, the imposing image is modestly skewed, in this case favoring the upper right edges between four slightly toned borders.

Right-angled corners and a sharp perimeter appear to be more consistent with a 7.5 or 8 assessment; a vivid "Lou Gehrig Says..." caption is situated in the lower bold blue text box; no obtrusive surface flaws are evident on either side; and the only notable blemish is a mild soiling spot situated on the flipside's lower left quadrant. Indeed, many of the technical attributes more than justified the hallowed PSA 7 NM grade, with any pack-fresh Gehrig Goudey subject worthy of the highest hobby accolades. This 1934 Goudey Gehrig subject would be one of Lou's last mainstream cards issued during his playing days, with his 1939 Salutation Exhibit distributed some five years later during Gehrig's final 1939 season. It's no secret that the Iron Horse's 1933 and 1934 Goudey subjects are among his most sought-after baseball cards, and only his iconic 1925 Exhibit rookie card boasts more prestige than Gehrig's 1930s bubble gum card treats. Effectively turning back the clock to an era when the iconic Larrupin' Lou ruled the batter's box in dominating fashion and synonymous with his momentous all-time baseball stature, this revered 1934 Goudey #61 keepsake's Near-Mint assessment immediately places it as one of the hobby's foremost cardboard heirlooms!

MIN BID $7,500
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