This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 1/23/2020.
The legacy of immortal Hall of Fame 1st baseman Henry Louis Gehrig will forever be imbedded in the minds and hearts of every baseball purist. Unfortunately, his iconic status goes far beyond his incomparable hitting achievements, with Gehrig being one of the most prolific run producers in major league history. Yet, for all of his statistical marvels, he will forever be best remembered for both his iconic 2,130 consecutive games played as well as his hallowed “Luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech at Yankee Stadium resulting from the tragic ALS disease that abruptly ended his remarkable career and eventually claimed his life two years later. Manufacturer: Hillerich & Bradsby Model Number: None Labeling Period: 1930-31 Length: 34.5 inches Weight: 34.2 Wood: Hickory Finish: Standard. This professional model bat shows evidence of outstanding use with a handle crack. A 1” x .5” piece is missing from the barrel. Numerous ball marks are visible on the left barrel. Mounting holes have been drilled in the knob and top of the barrel. An area on the right barrel has been planed and sanded to receive factory side writing. Today only the return date, “8-6-31”, though light, is visible. Gehrig’s Louisville Slugger bat ordering records on file have a 26 month gap between February 1929 and April 1931. During this time Gehrig was using bats manufactured by Hanna Manufacturing Company. From the teens to the early 1940s it was commonplace for players to send their preferred model back to the factory to request models of the same type. Upon receipt, an area on the barrel was planed and inscribed with the length and weight, player’s name, date received and team affiliation. Today, though faint, the return date reads “8-6-31” or “32”. With only a return date PSA/DNA could not determine who returned the bat to Louisville Slugger. Due to inconsistent length of the bat, and the fact the bat was manufactured during Gehrig’s two year departure from Louisville Slugger, PSA/DNA considers the bat as a pro model Lou Gehrig bat, but can not confirm use of the bat by Gehrig. Accompanied by a PSA/DNA LOA.