1939

Ornate decorative brass placard (4.75"x10.5") has "American Sportsman" titling across the top with a poem by John Kieran below. The touching tribute reads in part "To Lou Gehrig - We've been to wars together; We took our foes as they came; And always you were the leader, And ever you played the game...Let this be a silent token of lasting Friendship's gleam, And all the we've left unspoken; Your Pals of the Yankee Team." The lower half is filled with the names of his 1939 Yankees teammates and there is a "Col. Charles J. Dieges" mark at bottom right. Borders are trimmed in floral decoration with "1939" year incorporated. The offered example is one of a few which have surfaced and all are believed to have been presented to participants or prominent attendees at the 4 July 1939 Lou Gehrig Day ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. It is the only which we have seen mounted to a period wooden plaque (7"x12.5") which has an original Charles J. Dieges business card affixed (along with a Dieges & Clust marked metal plate) which bears a handwritten "To Fred Linder, with best wishes" note dated 1942. Linder served as a Treasurer with the Yankees and was clearly gifted the piece several years after the time of initial issue. Hint of light natural tarnish to metal portions. Wooden plaque has a few nicks and scratches and the lower nails are more recent replacements: EX