As first baseman for the New York Yankees for 17 seasons, Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive big-league games (a record that would stand for more than 50 years), batted .361 in seven World Series, and broke many other MLB records. Known for his remarkable endurance, Gehrig was a four-time league MVP, batted .340 lifetime, and hit 493 home runs including 23 grand slams – a record that still stands. In 1939, stricken by a rare form of paralysis now widely known as Lou Gehrig's disease (or ALS), he retired from the Yankees with the most graceful and moving speech ever uttered by an American athlete. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in a special election in 1939 and was the first baseball player ever to have his uniform number retired.
This bat dates from Gehrig's most productive period in the big leagues. Coming off an MVP season in 1927 Gehrig improved his batting average to .374 in 1928 and repeated as the league leader in RBI and doubles. Gehrig powered the “Murderer’s Row” Yankees over the Cardinals in the 1928 Fall Classic to notch their second straight World Series Championship. Gehrig’s pre-model Hillerich & Bradsby bat displays heavy use with a professionally repaired handle crack. Its 1928-1930 vintage is revealed by the C-5B style center brand which was used from 1928 to 1931 and narrowed down by the absence of a “Powerized” stamp which was added on bats starting in 1931.
Utilizing factory records, renowned bat expert, John Taube, identifies this bat as Gehrig’s #2 model, first ordered by the Iron Horse on November 26, 1928. The bat features usage traits identifiable to Gehrig including cleat marks on both sides of the barrel and ball marks on the right and left barrel. The dark brown ash weapon features excellent overall presentation quality with clear factory markings. An important Lou Gehrig gamer from a pivotal period in his storied career that saw him emerge from the prodigious shadow of Babe Ruth. Includes LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA (GU 7.5).