Opening Day Auction 2014
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2014
On August 30, 1931, the New York Yankees trounced the Boston Red Sox 14-4, belting out 21 hits including three home runs. During the top of the 7th inning, Babe Ruth walked to lead off the inning, and Lou Gehrig promptly jettisoned a long home run scoring Ruth and upping the Yankees insurmountable lead to 12-1. This home run was the 224th of Gehrig’s career, and this particular ball is attributed as that home run ball. As such, it is the only Lou Gehrig home run baseball that we have ever found available for public sale now or in the past. The well-worn (it was hit by Gehrig!) OAL Harridge sphere has the desirable red and blue stitching and still retains some of the original stampings. Upon one side panel is a “Lou Gehrig” signature (“3”), while the opposite side panel reads “New York 14, Red Sox 4, 37th home run, scoring Babe Ruth, Sunday August 30, 1931” with some of this writing faded over time, but enough is visible to verify the action on the field that day. Originally purchased years ago at a Boston-area yard sale, the ball was owned by Red Sox faithful, and recognized the achievements of the great Iron Horse, who was 4-6, HR and 4 RBI on the day. While there is no full authentication process of determining whether this is the actual 224th home run ball hit by Lou Gehrig, vintage period acknowledgment on the orb is about as good as it gets, attributing this ball to being Gehrig’s majestic clout which scored Babe Ruth. Full LOA from PSA/DNA, cert number V03573 for the signature only. Full LOA from JSA. It should be noted that PSA noted indications of additional signatures that were removed while JSA LOA did not. Comes with an additional letter of authenticity.