After two years as the Yankees starting first baseman, Lou Gehrig emerged in 1927 as one of the game’s preeminent sluggers. Although he played in Babe Ruth’s all-encompassing shadow, Gehrig hit .373 with 47 home runs to win the MVP Award as the Yankees swept the Pirates in the World Series. The next season Gehrig hit .374 and led the league in doubles, RBI and on-base percentage, then hit four home runs in the Yankees sweep of the Cardinals in the World Series.

     While the common perception today is that the Yankees “Murderer’s Row” were armed with the familiar Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger bats, the truth was that during that period another bat brand had briefly captured the professional ballplayer’s trade. Gehrig, like many other stars such as Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx, had made the switch to bats made by Hanna Manufacturing Company. The Athens, Georgia company had developed a finish called "Steel Tempered" that protected the wood from checking, the swelling and separation of the wood grain due to repeated ball contact. Hillerich & Bradsby eventually developed their own finish to curtail checking and Gehrig and the rest of the game’s biggest names switched back to Louisville Sluggers.

     This bat is a Hanna model “No 4” which is stamped above the center brand. Existing Hanna catalogs list a Gehrig model “11” being available in stores, but this “No 4” is not listed. This stamping, combined with stark block letter “GEHRIG” on the barrel and the length “35” on the knob has enabled PSA/DNA to determine that this bat was manufactured by Hanna for Lou Gehrig. The bat is un-cracked and shows heavy use. Many ball marks are visible along with several green bat rack paint streaks. Small abrasions are seen on the barrel, several of which are cleat indents. The bat’s handle had been taped in a spiral pattern of black adhesive tape. Since this tape enhancement appears to have been applied after Gehrig retired the bat, the tape and glue residue has been removed to expose the bat’s original handle. The bat’s length “35” has been stamped into the knob end. This bat measures 35 inches in length and weights 35.9 ounces, specifications that are very similar to Gehrig’s “4-16-27” model bat made by Hillerich & Bradsby, later designated the “G76” – Gehrig’s personal model. A very impressive bat that dates to the days of the Yankees famed “Murderer’s Row” and back-to-back World Championships. The bat comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA (1B12353) for the game use and has been graded a GU 6.

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