Taking time during the heat of the 1927 pennant race to partake in the lost art of letter writing, Lou Gehrig’s fine penmanship is on display in this jovial two-page correspondence (written on all four sides) to his friend on 6.5” x 9.5” Book Cadillac Hotel of Detroit stationery. The original mailing envelope is post-marked Detroit, Michigan August 26, 11:30 AM 1927. It really wasn’t much of a pennant race by then, as the Bronx Bombers had moved out to a 14.5 game-lead and would gain another game in the Yankees 8-6 victory that day with Gehrig delivering a double and sacrifice fly.  The letter’s envelope contains a two-cent postage stamp and is addressed to Mr. August Karch 81-17 169 Street Jamaica, L.I., NY with Gehrig’s return address: 328 W 113 St. N.Y.C., NY in the upper left hand corner. The letter begins:
           

            “Dear friend August:- I really don’t know what to do or say to thank you for what you’ve done, but I’ll find a way—It sure is mighty fine and I want to thank you & also John- I’ll see you next Wednesday morning anyway. We get home late Tuesday night.
            I was out to see old Henry and said, ‘well, you old fart, I want to open an agency in N.Y. What’s the dope’ – and he said, ‘Well Mr. Gehrig old boy, old boy,- you see it’s this way,’-” Wrote Gehrig in reference to automobile maker Henry Ford, continuing:
            “Anyway I got the name of the asst. mgr. and the wholesale mgr. in N.Y. at 52^nd St., and we can take a run up there some morning and get all the dope you want. I was glad I didn’t see the real man there, for I’m so dumb - I wouldn’t know what to talk to him about any-way- What’s the difference it all comes out in the wash-. The new Ford will not be out until Oct. 1, because I told Henry not to put it out so quick – He said ‘O.K. Lou- (I’m not crazy about myself at all- am I?).’ I also got the dope that he is coming out with a small Lincoln “6,” probably not before Dec. 1 or next year- Out west here they are all waiting for this new car- they who have seen it say it is a…and it looks like a real big thing- Any way we’ll see what becomes of this thing anyway- we can’t lose anything by getting the dope and trying things. Only time will tell.
            You are now the boss of my car, and tell Smith so too-tell him to go to hell.
            As for the baseballs I’ll have them for you when we get to N.Y.
            Another thing, I wanted a favor of you and didn’t hesitate to ask, and if you ever want any of me and hesitate to ask well, it will be just too sad for you.
            Sorry to hear about the knee but sincerely hope it will come out o.k. Kind of tough I guess with the lady friend around and no dancing.
            Please give my best to Steve, John, Joe and the rest of the gang, and give that lady friend a few kisses for me. If you don’t I will, Sincerely Lou.”

     The letter is written in fountain pen ink with Gehrig’s signatures at the bottom and on the return address rating 8-9. Stationery is folded at the halfway point and cloth-like paper displays some toning, envelope is torn open at the right side and exhibits expected wear. This three page letter comes with JSA LOA and includes three newspaper clips including two reporting on Gehrig’s memorial service and one from spring training of 1926. 

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