Puerto Rico's Lou Gehrig was shot to death on New Year's Day in 1952 while attempting a comeback in the Mexican League. He was the first of his countrymen to play in the major leagues and is the namesake for their landmark baseball stadium which once housed the Montreal Expos. This contract signed by Hiram Bithorn is for $35. It says so right on the 17th line of this fascinating document that looks almost as fresh as if it were printed and stamped last spring training. Bithorn's days as merely a local hero after the Nov. 14, 1941 signing date were numbered. He reached the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1942 and played four years, winning 34 games. And to think it all started with this $35 piece of paper. Contract is EX+, sigs are NRMT.