1933 Worch Cigar Lou Gehrig

Sold For:

$1,740

Year:

1933

Auction:

2022 Fall

Lot #:

736

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1930s and 1940s Cards

Extremely rare, high-quality postcard-sized premium card (3-3/8 x 5-3/8 inches) of Lou Gehrig issued by the Worch Cigar Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. Gehrig is one of the key cards from this very scarce set, which was made available only by mail. The real-photo sepia-toned image features the legendary “Iron Horse” in a batting pose. This is an exceptional example from the front, bright, crisp, and clean. The card has outstanding centering, moderate wear on the corners, and a few light creases. Encapsulated as "Authentic" by SGC due to the excessive back damage from album removal. This is a very interesting set because of its high quality and real photos and the fact it is the only American baseball-card tobacco issue of the era. By 1933, baseball-card issues by tobacco companies were the long-forgotten standard that had been replaced by cards issued with bubble gum and candy. Cards issued with tobacco were throwbacks to what was then "the old days," and apparently it was not a particularly successful promotion as it lasted only a single year. Baseball cards were not issued with tobacco in America again until the Red Man Chewing Tobacco sets of the early 1950s. This is a particularly rare, extremely presentable, and noteworthy Lou Gehrig card dating from the heart of his career with the New York Yankees. Reserve $300.