A significant artifact from baseball history is set to go under the hammer. The home jersey worn by Lou Gehrig during his iconic 1937 season with the New York Yankees will be auctioned by SCP Auctions. According to reports, this piece of memorabilia is estimated to sell for a staggering $3 million to $4 million.
In 1937, Lou Gehrig delivered a remarkable performance before Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) began to affect his career. That season, the legendary “Iron Horse” smashed 37 home runs, racked up 159 runs batted in, and boasted an impressive batting average of .351, with only 49 strikeouts. For context, the MLB strikeout leader from the previous season recorded a staggering 221 strikeouts, underscoring Gehrig’s extraordinary ability to make contact.
Now, nearly 90 years later, this pinstriped jersey featuring the coveted interlocking NY is confirmed authentic. SCP Auctions has enlisted the expertise of three respected verification agencies, including Resolution Photomatching, Sports Investors Authentication, and MeiGray, to validate its provenance.
During that era, players frequently wore the same jersey for multiple games, and this particular garment saw significant action. Gehrig donned it for several home games throughout the 1937 season, notably an August 5 matchup against the Chicago White Sox, when he hit two home runs and drove in five runs.
The jersey also made an appearance in Game 2 of the 1937 World Series, where Gehrig contributed to the Yankees’ victory over the New York Giants, going 1-for-2 with two walks. Additionally, it is featured in the team’s official photo from that year and in the iconic portrait that inspired Gehrig’s plaque in Monument Park.
The Yankees clinched the World Series title that fall. Gehrig returned for the 1938 season, but the early signs of ALS began to manifest. He ultimately retired in June 1939. Over 100 years after his debut in 1923, Gehrig remains one of baseball’s most formidable hitters, leaving an indelible mark on the game.
The auction will conclude on Saturday, offering collectors and fans a rare opportunity to own a piece of baseball history.
