A piece of New York Yankees history just fetched one of the highest prices ever for baseball memorabilia. Lou Gehrig’s jersey from his final home game at Yankee Stadium sold for an astonishing $2.712 million at a Christie’s and Hunt Auctions event, according to ESPN. The record-breaking sale underscores the timeless legacy of one of the most beloved players in baseball history and shows that nearly a century later, Gehrig’s impact still commands reverence—and an enormous price tag.
The uniform, authenticated by MeiGray to Game 2 of the 1939 World Series, marks the last time Gehrig ever wore Yankee pinstripes in the Bronx. That game came months after his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the disease that would ultimately end his career and life, and later come to bear his name. Though Gehrig only played eight games that season, his courage in facing his illness inspired generations of players and fans.
A Jersey With a Story as Powerful as the Man Who Wore It
The jersey’s story is as remarkable as the man who wore it. It was originally preserved by a dry cleaner who serviced uniforms for the Yankees’ affiliate, the Newark Bears. When he realized Gehrig’s jersey was among those bound for minor league reuse, he decided to hold onto it—unknowingly saving one of the most valuable artifacts in baseball history. For more than five decades, the jersey stayed in his possession, kept in pristine condition before finding its way into the hands of Dr. D.B. Espy, a pioneering memorabilia collector, in 1991. Espy purchased it for just $115,000, and more than 30 years later, that investment has turned into a multimillion-dollar piece of baseball heritage.
David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, called Espy “a visionary collector who understood the cultural weight of sports memorabilia long before the rest of the world caught on.” For collectors and historians, the Gehrig uniform is more than just fabric—it’s a symbol of endurance, humility, and the end of an era in Yankees baseball.
In the same auction, a bat believed to have been used by Gehrig during the 1938 World Series sold for $1.197 million, while Jackie Robinson’s Hall of Fame ring fetched $693,000. Both items, according to ESPN, included a buyer’s premium and drew significant attention from bidders across the globe. The record-breaking results show just how strong the market remains for historically significant baseball memorabilia.
Remembering “The Iron Horse”
Gehrig’s legacy transcends the game itself. Known as “The Iron Horse,” he became a symbol of consistency and quiet excellence, playing in 2,130 consecutive games, a record that stood for more than 50 years. His humility and perseverance defined an entire generation of players.
The jersey sold this week didn’t appear during Gehrig’s legendary “Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth” speech on July 4, 1939, but it still captures that same heartbreaking period in his life. The location of the jersey from that day remains unknown, adding even more mystique to the one that just shattered auction records.
Gehrig passed away on June 2, 1941, at the age of 37. His name remains synonymous with strength and grace in the face of adversity, both in the Yankees organization and throughout the sport. Decades later, his uniform serves as a tangible reminder of what he stood for—discipline, humility, and love for the game.
Eighty-six years after his final home appearance, Gehrig’s spirit still echoes through Yankee Stadium. From his record-setting streak to his emotional farewell, the Iron Horse’s story remains one of baseball’s most powerful legacies—and now, one of its most valuable.
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