On May 2, 1939, after one year and a half of worsening of his physical condition, Lou renounces to play. From June 1, 1925 to April 30, 1939 he had realized with the Yankees the sensational performance of 2,130 consecutive games in major league. Nicknamed The Iron Horse he was an example for the youth in the sequel to Christy Mathewson. His number 4 was withdrawn on 4 July 1939 by the Yankees.
On July 4, 1941, five weeks after his death, Gehrig was the first player and the second person after the manager Miller Huggins to be honored with a monument at Yankee Stadium Monument Park.
The image in his plaque and in the 1941 ceremony ticket is copied from a photo made in 1937. The attitude, both smiling and melancholic, is typical of the great player, as if waiting for his desperate fate.
The flannel jersey worn by Lou Gehrig on this photo and visible on the plaque and on the ticket was retrieved. It had been worn out and modified through about 40 games with the champion in 1937 followed by an unregistered but probably intensive use in a farm club. A NY mark conforming to its 1937 drawing was sewn close to the location of the original mark that had been removed.
The photo-matching is beyond question. This jersey graded 6.5 by Mears has the value of a relic. It is estimated $ 800K for sale by Heritage online from Dallas on August 19 with an extended bidding phase, lot 80004.
SOLD for $ 870K including premium
80-Year-Old Gehrig Flannel at @Heritage_Sport Could Fetch $800,000: https://t.co/7jXT2F1UP4 pic.twitter.com/o7ZbaZqWnv
— Sports Collector (@SportsCollector) July 23, 2017