Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper Items Among Memory Lane Highlights at The National

A game-used bat that was used by Lou Gehrig. Photo by Danielle Solzman.

The Memory Lane Inc. booth at The National Sports Collectors Convention allowed fans to hold a bat that was once used by the Iron Horse himself, Lou Gehrig.

The last time that The National was in Rosemont, they brought with them a Babe Ruth bat that people could touch. It was only natural that they would bring a bat used by his New York Yankees teammate this time around. What makes things so interesting about this particular Gehrig model is that Hillerich and Bradsby sued Hanna over it. Gehrig had been under contract with H&B to use Louisville Slugger bats and using a Batrite model was in strict violation of the exclusive contract. It didn’t stop companies like Hanna or Spalding from sending their own bats to players. The model is photo-matched from the early 1930s.

The bat wasn’t the only thing Lou Gehrig-related on display. Baseball fans and any cinephiles in attendance could admire Gary Cooper‘s screen-used New York Yankees jersey from his role as Lou Gehrig in The Pride of the Yankees. Because the film was released in black and white, it’s hard to say just how much the jersey has aged. From where I was looking, it definitely appears to have aged, considering what its color looks like over 80 years later. Unless that was the lighting playing tricks on me!

And if the Gehrig memorabilia wasn’t enough, collectors could take a glance at the holy grail of baseball cards, a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card. The card was originally produced by ATC throughout 1909-11 as part of the T206 series. However, Wagner refused to let the card production continue because he either didn’t want children buying cigarette packs or he wanted more money. ATC ceased production as requested and only 50-200 cards were distributed, making the T206 one of the most expensive baseball cards in history. The Wagner card and a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card have been going back and forth as the most expensive baseball card.

We’ll see what Memory Lane Inc. brings with them when The National returns to Rosemont, Ill. in 2026. If 2023 or 2025 are any indication, baseball collectors are probably going to be in for quite the treat.

The 46th National Sports Collectors Convention will be held July 29-August 2, 2026 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.