This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2023
A wonderful signed and inscribed portrait of Yankees legend Lou Gehrig taken by Chicago photographer George Burke. Dating to the 1930s, Burke’s portrait captures a smiling Gehrig in a candid moment in the dugout before a game. The real prize of this piece is the incredible one of a kind inscription written by Gehrig in strong black fountain pen, “To Bill, I’d like to see you fill this uniform and assume my duties when they eventually take it away from me – Cordially, Lou Gehrig.” The inscription perfectly complements Gehrig’s smiling expression, taking this signed portrait to a new level.
To give a quick background this was written for a minor league first baseman named Bill Hayes who came up and joined the Yankees in St. Petersburg, Fl. for Spring Training during the 1937-38 seasons. He would end up building a friendship with DiMaggio and Gehrig and as you can see Gehrig thought and wanted him to become his replacement when the time was right. Unfortunately for Hayes, due to Gehrigs play he never did get called up and spent all of his career traveling around the minor leagues with different organizations. He was able to keep some great memories and pieces such as this amazing photo as it was passed down to his family.
The photograph measures 7 ½ x 9 ½ with a couple of very small creases around the bottom of the border of the white edges and a very small tear towards the bottom left corner edge as well, though nothing affects the portrait. Otherwise the photo is in overall beautiful condition. The reverse carries some toning with the always important George Burke stamp. The photograph has been encapsulated and graded Type 1 Authentic by PSA for the photograph and autograph.