A New York Yankees jersey from Lou Gehrig’s final home game sold for $2.7 million this week, October 22. And a bat that the Iron Horse probably wielded in his last World Series realised $1.2 million.
They were the top-valued items in the auction: American Greats: Vintage Sports and Hollywood from the Dr. G. B. Espy Collection, at Christie’s in New York. The sale’s 400-plus lots brought in over $8 million.
Gehrig would be a legend on his on-field record alone. A lifelong Yankee, he helped bring 6 World Series crowns back to Yankee Stadium.
But, he also showed courage in the face of ALS ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), the disease that ended his career and was to kill him.
His 1939 pinstriped shirt was photo-matched to the poignant 1939 World Series, which Gehrig oversaw as a non-playing captain as his illness progressed.
It went into the sale with an estimate of $2 million to $4 million and made $2.7 million.
The bat, a Louisville Slugger 125, showed evidence of use, and was probably swung by Gehrig during that series.
It realised $1.2 million against a $500,000 to $1 million estimate.
Marilyn said the cheering crowds on her trip to Korea made her realise what a huge star she was. Her marriage to Joe DiMaggio, of which this is a rare memento, was short and stormy. Image courtesy of Christie’s.
Both items were from the collection of late Atlanta doctor Goodman Basil ‘G. B.’ Espy, who collected throughout his life.
Alongside his significant sports holdings were Hollywood memorabilia, including perhaps the largest collection of Marilyn Monroe artefacts in private hands in the world.
From that facet of Dr Espy’s interests, a Department of Defense ID card recording her trip to entertain troops in Korea in 1954 made $176,400 against a top estimate of $30,000
The card is also baseball linked, carrying an extremely rare example of Marilyn signing as “Norma Jeane DiMaggio” after her marriage to NY Yankees star Joe DiMaggio.
