In an article written during the 1936 World Series, Time Magazine summed up the current state of Lou Gehrig’s career by calling him the game's No. 1 batsman. Safely out of the shadow of Babe Ruth, Lou had emerged as the game's favorite superstar and a whole new Yankee dynasty was built around the team’s rock-solid first baseman, and they were ready to lead the Yankees into a new dynasty built around the Iron Horse.

Gehrig's 49 home runs and .354 average in 1936 led the Bronx Bombers to their first World Championship in four seasons and earned him the MVP award. The 1937 season was virtually a carbon copy of the previous season as the Yanks raised another World Championship flag above the Stadium. Gehrig's pursuit of a new dynasty was beginning to emerge as Lou showed the baseball world the Yankees did not need to rely on the Bambino for World Series titles. Gehrig seemed unstoppable. Playing every single game with a determination like no ballplayer before or since, Lou’s leadership on the field and dominance at the plate pushed him to the pinnacle of his career. Then, the real world stepped in and we all know what happened. We want to remember Lou during his greatness, not his eventual decline. His greatest seasons were in the middle of the Yankee lineup, and it is no coincidence the Ruth led Yankees didn't begin to win World Series Championships until Lou Gehrig arrived on the scene.

This stunning ash Hillerich & Bradsby bat is a silent reminder of Lou Gehrig's last great burst of offensive power, those dominating 1936 and 1937 seasons. It's a beautiful piece of lumber, as solid and stoic as the great first baseman who once wielded it, weighing 37.1 ounces over its majestic 35 inches. Lou Gehrig game used bats are extremely rare, much more rare than Babe Ruth bats, and there are approximately 20 known Gehrig examples in the hands of collectors. While any game used bat attributed to the Iron Horse is spectacularly scarce, this one is of the rare and coveted Hillerich & Bradsby, small signature variety. The bat shows heavy use by Gehrig, and a slight crack on the handle has been lovingly repaired with small bat boy nails. The back of the barrel shows light checking from repeated ball contact and the left and right barrel reveals many ball marks. Cleat impressions can be seen on the left, right and back of the barrel. There is a small chip in the bat's handle and the weight, "37 1/2" is stamped into the end. That stamped weight enables this bat to be identified as one of seven Gehrig ordered as part of three separate orders (for only seven total bats!) placed on 9/9/36, 9/11/37 and 5/25/38, exactly dating it to his last great seasons. This bat contains very bold stampings on the barrel and the label; deep embedded stampings as the workers at Hillerich & Bradsby took special care and pride in making Gehrig's bat.

One of the amazing events in baseball over the last 20 years was when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Gehrig's record for consecutive games played, which was an amazing 2,130 games. Gehrig played pretty much every inning of every game for 14 seasons, even when he was surely struggling with his health. There is a video included on our website of Cal Ripken doing a interview, all the while swinging THIS EXACT BAT of Gehrig's! The entire interview is with this bat in Cal's hands; he just can't put it down! A copy of this video will be included with the bat. Cal comments on the bat's characteristics, including the spike marks on the barrel, saying he used to do that, too! Ripken is asked if he would like to buy the bat, and replies, "No, but my record breaking bat would make a nice set." We agree and would like to help you, Cal when you decide to sell. Both these men exuded consistency, and Ripken talks of his and Gehrig's streaks so eloquently when describing Gehrig in this video, "it is a responsibility to your teammates and Lou was a shining example of that." We couldn't agree more. If this bat brings the history of the game and youthful exuberance back to Cal Ripken, Jr. when he has this exact bat in his hands, how do you think it will make YOU feel? We are extremely proud to offer one of the greatest game used bats swung by the great Lou Gehrig. PSA/DNA have given this piece of baseball history a grade of GU 9 and their Letter of Authenticity is included.

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