This significant original Type I photograph of Lou Gehrig was taken in March 1939 during Spring Training in Florida. Who knew then that just eight games into the 1939 regular season the Iron Horse’s remarkable 2,030 consecutive games streak would come to a screeching halt. In June, the Yankee legend would sadly be forced to hang ‘em up for good.
After playing an AL-best 157 games the season prior, Gehrig got off to a sluggish start in 1939. Suffering from a mysterious illness, he had just four hits in 28 official at-bats and no extra base hits before getting pulled from the everyday lineup. The next two months were spent trying to figure out what was plaguing the well-built man long considered a pillar of health. Experts at the Mayo Clinic ultimately diagnosed Gehrig with a rare neurodegenerative disease that now fatefully bears his name.
Larrapin’ Lou is pictured following though his fluid left-handed hitting stroke, with well-dressed Florida patrons looking on in the background. The reverse is stamped by ACME Newspictures with "Lou Gehrig (1939)" penciled at the top. Other than a small crease at the lower left corner, the photo is virtually flawless in quality and condition.
DATE/YEAR/ERA: 1939
GENERATION: First (original negative)
ISSUER/NEWSPAPER: ACME Newspictures
CAPTIONED: No
DIMS: 7” x 9”
Encapsulated by PSA/DNA, Type I