Lou Gehrig's 1928 World Series Home Run Ball Fetches $62,617 At Auction
STAMFORD, Conn. (WFAN/AP) - A baseball that New York Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig hit a home run with in the 1928 World Series has sold for $62,617.
Hunt Auctions said the ball sold Tuesday at the All-Star FanFest in Kansas City, Mo. The buyer's name was not available.
Elizabeth Gott, of Stamford, said she decided to sell the ball on behalf of her 30-year-old son, Michael, so he could use the proceeds to pay off his medical school debt.
"I'm just sort of floored by the whole thing," Gott said. "It has a lot of history. It's a lot about America. To think that it's possible the team that we rooted for could actually help my son pay off some of his medical-school debt, any amount would be fine."
Michael Gott, who is in his last year of residency, said he was surprised at the potential value of the ball. He said his medical-school debt was nearly $200,000.
"I'm extremely fortunate that this occurred and definitely extremely thankful that something so lucky would happen to me," Gott said. "I'm … very appreciative that someone in my family was able to contribute to something I worked so hard for."
Gott said that the ball was a gift to him from his uncle.
Hunt Auctions previously predicted the ball could fetch $100,000 to $200,000.
Gehrig hit the homer off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander while teammate Babe Ruth was on base. A newspaper account at the time quoted him calling it his most significant home run at the time.
A circa-1920s-bat used by Ty Cobb sold for $253,000.
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