Lot # 907: 1933 Worch Cigar Lou Gehrig SGC POOR 1

Extremely rare 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, of course, 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. Gehrig's name and team appear between his feet. The offered card features superb image clarity and contrast. Graded POOR 1 by SGC largely due to back damage. Despite the modest technical card, this card possesses strong eye appeal. This is a very interesting set because of its high quality and real photos, and the fact that 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 By 1933, baseball-card issues by tobacco companies were the long-forgotten standard that had been replaced by cards issued with bubble gum and candy.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 "the old days," and it seems 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, visually appealing, and noteworthy Lou Gehrig card dating from the heart of his career with the New York Yankees.