This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/15/2017
The current high bids for the cumulative group of singles, $178,993.00, is currently higher than the total for the complete set, $83,167.00 (this lot is currently winning)
While the Boston based DeLong Gum Company looked to usher in a new era of baseball card collecting with their 24-card 1933 series, crosstown competitor Goudey Gum issued a mammoth 240-card collection, which included four distinct examples of "The Bambino." Of course, DeLong was no match for Goudey and their 1933 series would be their first and last foray into the baseball card world. But the unmistakable charm of Delongs still permeate the card collecting world today, making it one of the most popular "one hit wonders" ever produced. Though the Babe is historically renowned for putting up such implausible statistics that the adjective "Ruthian" was coined to describe it, one cannot overlook the heroics of teammate Gehrig, who not only won three American League home run titles of his own but also led the A.L. in RBI five times, topping the 150 RBI mark an unimaginable seven times while batting .340 lifetime and winning two MVP crowns. Offered here is the grand prize of the DeLong series, a Lou Gehrig card that is one of the true icons in the sports card hobby. Featuring a stunning silhouette of the "Iron Horse" cast against a baseball stadium in an image that portrays Gehrig as a larger-than-life hero for the youth of America, the most noticeable difference between this magnificent SGC 88 NM/MT example and most others at or near its grading tier is the incredibly bold and clean color of the blue, green, red and yellow pigments, matched in quality by the stark whiteness of the background clouds. DeLongs never retain this level of intense color or display such precise registration, not even ones as high-grade as this museum-quality piece. The centering is virtually spot-on perfect while the four corners clearly meet the specifications of the grade. The reverse is splendidly inked in deep black, set against an uncharacteristically bright off-white stock that exhibits a noteworthy appearance. A true American classic, offered in emotionally stirring and technically strong NM/MT condition.