Gehrig cap could fetch $200,000

Bob Ellis knew what he wanted from his mother-inlaw’s collection of Lou Gehrig memorabilia both times she asked him to pick something out as a Father’s Day gift.

It was a hat worn by the New York Yankees slugger and a baseball signed by fellow Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Tris Speaker and Eddie Collins.

The Gehrig hat was certified by Mears, one of the leading memorabilia authentication companies, and estimated to be worth at least US$200,000.

“I could never wear the hat because my head was too big,” the Connecticut resident said. “The baseball to me is historic. I know statistically those four batters were four of the top 20 batters in the history of baseball.”

The hat and ball are among items Ellis and his wife, Jill, received from Jill’s mother, Laurel Steigler, in 1998. The collection, which includes various photographs, letters and signed documents, and baseballs, is now available as part of Heritage Auctions’ latest offering. The ball signed by the four Hall of Famers was valued by Heritage at $20,000.

Gehrig batted .340 with 493 home runs and 1,995 RBIs over his 17 years with the New York Yankees, helping the team win six World Series titles. Gehrig retired in 1939 because amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), later called Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year and died in 1941.