Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
On the afternoon of June 7, 1930, Lou Gehrig powered the New York Yankees to a 12-5 drubbing of the St. Louis Browns. The Iron Horse went 4 for 6, with three runs scored, a home run and two RBIs. He also stole home plate, one of 15 such thefts Gehrig had during his career. He wasn’t all about power, Lou had speed, too! Gehrig also took great care to answer fan mail, evidenced by this handwritten note penned after his remarkable earlier on field performance. On “The Hotel Chase, Saint Louis” stationery the letter reads in full,
“Friend Hayes:-
Sorry, but none of our Series games ever went ten innings, and I don’t believe I ever broke one up with a double – Hope you didn’t lose too much.
Cordially, Lou Gehrig –
Pardon delay.”
(Although Lou did his best to recollect, he was incorrect as Game 5 of the 1926 against the St. Louis Cardinals did go 10 innings, a 3-2 Yankee win.) Accompanying this undated, tremendous handwritten letter is the original mailing envelope – also penned in the hand of Lou Gehrig, although the postmark reads “SAINT LOUIS, MO Jun 7 1930, 10:00 PM” giving us a definitive date. The letter has the usual mailing folds, and some inconsequential edge staining, while Gehrig’s black fountain pen signature remains as bold as the date it was penned, exhibiting (“9/10”) in strength. A fantastic handwritten Lou Gehrig letter, with historic baseball content. Full LOA from PSA/DNA, cert number P02702, graded MINT 9; Full LOA from James Spence Authentication, cert number X32182.