Eric
04-20-2006, 09:03 PM
Wow-
Mastro is having some big time fireworks. Ending tonight and currently at $95,338 is
Lou Gehrig 1933 H&B Small Signature Game Used Bat
Graded A9.5 by MEARS
Here's the description:
The very qualities inherent to Lou Gehrig rendered him a mere bystander when headlines and clamoring fans were involved. Modest—perhaps to a fault—Gehrig plied his craft with amazing regularity, contributing to the "expected" performance of Gotham's dependable Iron Horse. Numbers, however, speak volumes (while Gehrig would not). Only in comparing him to Babe Ruth—his vociferous opposite—do we learn what a truly amazing diamond specimen Lou Gehrig was. In his 10 seasons (1925-1934) as Ruth's everyday teammate, Gehrig out-hit the Babe in seven of them and totaled more extra-base hits in no fewer than eight of those campaigns. (It should be noted, as well, that in the two seasons that Ruth had more extra-base hits, he did so by a combined total of just five.) In each of five seasons in the latter half of that span, Gehrig plated more runs than his fence-clearing teammate, as well. So rare was the combination of Gehrig's wondrous athletic prowess and his humble demeanor. Rarer, still, is this Gehrig game used weapon—a hitting relic that in striking contradiction to its owner's personality, was downright lethal to all who encountered it. Several elements allow us to conclude that this Hillerich & Bradsby white ash lumber was turned for the Yankee great in 1933. First and foremost, factory shipping records reveal an order for this model in '33. An inclusion of a third partial thunderbolt over the "Powerized" engraving on the centerbrand further dates the lumber, and additionally, this bat features a Hornsby-like knob—a detail from which Gehrig switched (to a larger knob) permanently in September of 1933. While the entirety of Gehrig's career—right to its tragic conclusion—was nothing short of amazing, the precise time in which this 35-1/4", 36-oz. bat was brandished was perhaps the absolute pinnacle of Columbia Lou's run. With 32 homers, 139 RBI and a .334 batting mark in 1933, Gehrig finished fourth in the American League's MVP balloting—marking the fourth time during a seven-season run in which he was to finish in that category's top five (Gehrig captured the laurel twice). While Gehrig bats are considerably rarer than Ruth weapons, this particular model is exceedingly scarce in that it is a "small signature" bat, making it nearly impossible in comparison to the large signature variety. Further enhancing the value, the facsimile signature (along with the centerbrand) is deeply burned into the wood and exhibits well-defined characters. As if one needed to be further enticed, we offer impeccable provenance with this game wielded war club. Hailing from the estate of legendary Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium public address announcer George Levy, this uncracked hitting heirloom has a life of its own—and a history compliant with every last detail of Gehrig's persona. It is common knowledge that Gehrig befriended Levy and the two became neighbors with a close bond. Defining the relationship between the two Yankee fixtures, Gehrig gave this cherished weapon to Levy as a gesture of friendship. Levy, in turn, held it with adoration for the rest of his life. The vintage item reveals evidence of tremendous game use. Amazingly, the wood has retained a smooth furniture finish. The barrel is covered with ball, bat-rack, cleat and deeply embedded stitch marks, and Gehrig's number "4" (the first number ever to be retired) is carved into a lathe mark on the knob. It is our opinion that this procedure was done by either a Yankee bat boy, clubhouse manager Pete Sheehy—or by Gehrig himself (probably one of the former two). With the above-mentioned factors present, this rivals the finest Gehrig game employed weapons in existence. Graded A-9.5 by MEARS. LOAs from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS, John Taube/PSA DNA
It can be found at
http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot%20Information&LotIndex=57782&CurrentRow=1
Mastro is having some big time fireworks. Ending tonight and currently at $95,338 is
Lou Gehrig 1933 H&B Small Signature Game Used Bat
Graded A9.5 by MEARS
Here's the description:
The very qualities inherent to Lou Gehrig rendered him a mere bystander when headlines and clamoring fans were involved. Modest—perhaps to a fault—Gehrig plied his craft with amazing regularity, contributing to the "expected" performance of Gotham's dependable Iron Horse. Numbers, however, speak volumes (while Gehrig would not). Only in comparing him to Babe Ruth—his vociferous opposite—do we learn what a truly amazing diamond specimen Lou Gehrig was. In his 10 seasons (1925-1934) as Ruth's everyday teammate, Gehrig out-hit the Babe in seven of them and totaled more extra-base hits in no fewer than eight of those campaigns. (It should be noted, as well, that in the two seasons that Ruth had more extra-base hits, he did so by a combined total of just five.) In each of five seasons in the latter half of that span, Gehrig plated more runs than his fence-clearing teammate, as well. So rare was the combination of Gehrig's wondrous athletic prowess and his humble demeanor. Rarer, still, is this Gehrig game used weapon—a hitting relic that in striking contradiction to its owner's personality, was downright lethal to all who encountered it. Several elements allow us to conclude that this Hillerich & Bradsby white ash lumber was turned for the Yankee great in 1933. First and foremost, factory shipping records reveal an order for this model in '33. An inclusion of a third partial thunderbolt over the "Powerized" engraving on the centerbrand further dates the lumber, and additionally, this bat features a Hornsby-like knob—a detail from which Gehrig switched (to a larger knob) permanently in September of 1933. While the entirety of Gehrig's career—right to its tragic conclusion—was nothing short of amazing, the precise time in which this 35-1/4", 36-oz. bat was brandished was perhaps the absolute pinnacle of Columbia Lou's run. With 32 homers, 139 RBI and a .334 batting mark in 1933, Gehrig finished fourth in the American League's MVP balloting—marking the fourth time during a seven-season run in which he was to finish in that category's top five (Gehrig captured the laurel twice). While Gehrig bats are considerably rarer than Ruth weapons, this particular model is exceedingly scarce in that it is a "small signature" bat, making it nearly impossible in comparison to the large signature variety. Further enhancing the value, the facsimile signature (along with the centerbrand) is deeply burned into the wood and exhibits well-defined characters. As if one needed to be further enticed, we offer impeccable provenance with this game wielded war club. Hailing from the estate of legendary Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium public address announcer George Levy, this uncracked hitting heirloom has a life of its own—and a history compliant with every last detail of Gehrig's persona. It is common knowledge that Gehrig befriended Levy and the two became neighbors with a close bond. Defining the relationship between the two Yankee fixtures, Gehrig gave this cherished weapon to Levy as a gesture of friendship. Levy, in turn, held it with adoration for the rest of his life. The vintage item reveals evidence of tremendous game use. Amazingly, the wood has retained a smooth furniture finish. The barrel is covered with ball, bat-rack, cleat and deeply embedded stitch marks, and Gehrig's number "4" (the first number ever to be retired) is carved into a lathe mark on the knob. It is our opinion that this procedure was done by either a Yankee bat boy, clubhouse manager Pete Sheehy—or by Gehrig himself (probably one of the former two). With the above-mentioned factors present, this rivals the finest Gehrig game employed weapons in existence. Graded A-9.5 by MEARS. LOAs from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS, John Taube/PSA DNA
It can be found at
http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot%20Information&LotIndex=57782&CurrentRow=1