If he played today, there would have been a bunch of Lou Gehrig baseball cards before he ever set foot in Yankee Stadium, but it wasn’t until two years after his 1923 debut that Gehrig first appeared on what would be considered a widely distributed card set.
The 1925 Exhibit Supply Company set included the 22-year-old Gehrig and today that postcard-sized issue is considered his rookie card.
Quite rare, prices have skyrocketed over the last few years as the card gained more acceptance as “the” Gehrig card to own. Gum card collectors who lay eyes on the classic image of a smiling, dimpled veteran eight years later in the 1934 Goudey set may disagree, however.
Gehrig was a staple on those Exhibit cards throughout the rest of the 1920s and 30s, but aside from his Goudey appearances (two cards in each of the popular 1933 and ’34 sets), his cardboard checklist is fairly limited. There simply weren’t many mainstream baseball cards issued during the first half of Gehrig’s career.
You can find him on some ice cream premium issues in the 1920s—a nice option for those who want an early Gehrig but can’t afford the early Exhibits. He was also in the 1928 Star Player Candy set and in the 1931 W517 set, among others.
It’s those 1930s issues, though, where much of the auction action takes place. They’re more plentiful and popular, not to mention a lot more colorful than the cards issued prior to 1933. High-grade Goudeys and 1933 DeLongs sell for big bucks these days and bidders often go to the well whenever a rare 1933 U.S. Caramel Gehrig card comes up.
Gehrig is also a popular subject when today’s card companies like Topps and Panini create special 1/1 cards for their releases. Typically containing a cut signature and/or a piece or two of Gehrig memorabilia, their selling prices often rival cards from Gehrig’s playing days.
Below is a current look at the most watched Lou Gehrig cards being sold through eBay auctions. The list is automatically updated multiple times per day so you can keep up with which cards are the most popular with collectors.
|
LOU GEHRIG SGC 2.5 1933 GOUDEY R319 #160 ROOKIE CARD RC YANKEES GOOD +
40 bids - Price: $4450 - Watchers: 128
|
|
|
1934 Goudey Set-Break # 37 Lou Gehrig SGC 1.5 FAIR
22 bids - Price: $1421 - Watchers: 88
|
|
|
2011 Topps Tier 1: #TSR27 Lou Gehrig Game Used Bat Relic /399 NR-MINT
16 bids - Price: $29 - Watchers: 44
|
|
|
1962 Topps Baseball PSA 5 Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth Yankees
10 bids - Price: $25.05 - Watchers: 12
|
|
|
2025 Topps Diamond Icons Black #49 Lou Gehrig DIAMOND 02/10
12 bids - Price: $20.5 - Watchers: 10
|
|
|
1960 Fleer Set-Break # 28 Lou Gehrig EX-EXMINT *GMCARDS*
10 bids - Price: $30 - Watchers: 9
|
|
|
1961 Fleer Set-Break # 31 Lou Gehrig EX-EXMINT *GMCARDS*
12 bids - Price: $66 - Watchers: 7
|
