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Second HOF Bust of Lou Gehrig Surfaces; To be Sold March 23

Only known additional casting of Gehrig’s 1939 bronze Baseball Hall of Fame plaque art to be auctioned March 23.
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Sterling Associates made headlines with its Jan. 11 sale of Alexander Hamilton’s personally engraved powder horn. On March 23, the estate auction specialists will shine a spotlight on another great American hero, baseball legend Lou Gehrig.

The star lot of their auction is a bronze bas-relief plaque adornment in the likeness of Gehrig that was designed and cast by artisan George Seaman and colleagues at the Steinmeier Bronze Tablet Co., in 1939, the year of Gehrig’s retirement.

Bronze plaque art of Lou Gehrig, circa 1939, designed/crafted by George Seaman and colleagues at Steinmeier Bronze Tablet Co., only known additional casting of the bas-relief art seen on Gehrig’s National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y. Est. $3,000-$5,000. Sterling Associates image

Bronze plaque art of Lou Gehrig, circa 1939, designed/crafted by George Seaman and colleagues at Steinmeier Bronze Tablet Co., only known additional casting of the bas-relief art seen on Gehrig’s National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y. Est. $3,000-$5,000. Sterling Associates image

As stated in the letter of provenance from Seaman’s son that accompanies the lot, the sculptural work was a contemporaneous casting from the same mold as the one affixed to Gehrig’s plaque at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

“The Steinmeier foundry in New York City produced the Lou Gehrig bronze for the actual Hall of Fame plaque. The example we are auctioning was made at the same time as a gift for Seaman’s son, who idolized Gehrig. To the best of our knowledge, this was the only additional casting ever made from that mold,” said Sterling Associates’ owner, Stephen D’Atri.

The bronze sculptural depiction of a smiling Gehrig in a tableau adorned by two baseball bats and a laurel branch, measures 7 inches high by 12 inches wide. It is mounted on a wood plaque. The conservative auction estimate is $3,000-$5,000.

The Wednesday, March 23 auction will commence at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The live gallery preview is from 10-3 Wed.-Fri. March 16-18 and Mon.-Tues. March 21 and 22, or by appointment. The gallery is located at 70 Herbert Ave., Closter, NJ 07624.

For additional information, call 201-768-1140, e-mail sterlingauction@optimum.net or visit www.antiquenj.com. View the fully illustrated catalog online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.