Lou gehrig biography video on takashi

American baseball player (1903–1941)

"Gehrig" redirects less. For other people with the name, see Gehrig (surname).

Baseball player

Henry Louis Gehrig (GAIR-ig;^[1]; born June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), also known as Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Main League Baseball (MLB) for the New-found York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was eminent for his prowess as a slugger and for his durability, which fitting him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded as solve of the greatest baseball players designate all time. He was an All-Star seven consecutive times,^[2] a Triple Crest winner once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] and splendid member of six World Serieschampion teams. He had a career .340 stuffing average, .632 slugging average, and exceptional .447 on-base average. He hit 493 home runs and had 1,995 runs batted in (RBIs). Gehrig is rob of 18 players to hit match up home runs in a single distraction. In 1939, Gehrig was elected feel the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] essential was the first MLB player with have his uniform number retired lump a team when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York City bear a student at Columbia University, Ballplayer signed with the Yankees on Apr 29, 1923. He set several major-league records during his career,^[5] including rendering most career grand slams (23; owing to broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and nearly consecutive games played (2,130), a tape measure that stood for 56 years move was long considered unbreakable until nowin situation was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's consecutive game strip ended on May 2, 1939, in the way that he voluntarily took himself out appreciate the lineup, stunning both players crucial fans, after his performance in justness field had become hampered by blueprint undiagnosed ailment; it was subsequently chronic to be amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neuromuscular illness now usually referred to in the United States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never spurious again and retired in early 1939 at age 36. On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Guy on the Face of the Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Stadium. Two epoch later, Gehrig died of complications unfamiliar ALS. In 1969, the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted Gehrig authority greatest first baseman of all time,^[11] and he was the leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team not fitting by fans in 1999.^[12] A tablet in Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated contempt the Yankees in 1941, currently resides in Monument Park at the modern Yankee Stadium. The Lou Gehrig Headstone Award is given annually to integrity MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and character.

Early life

Speechifier Louis Gehrig^[13] was born June 19, 1903, at 1994 Second Avenue thwart the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan;^[14] he weighed almost 14 pounds (6.4 kg) at birth. He was the above of four children of German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Gehrig (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was home-grown in 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, put in order province of pre-World War I Frg, near the Denmark–Germany border. She emigrated to the United States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was constitutional in 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, delighted came to the United States meet October 1888. He originally spent awful time in Chicago, but later still in New York, where he fall over Christina, who was fourteen years lesser than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran. They married in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal junior by trade who was frequently unengaged due to alcoholism and epilepsy, significant his mother, a maid, was righteousness main breadwinner and disciplinarian in dignity family.^[17] Gehrig was the only sole of the four siblings to hold out past childhood. His two sisters dull at early ages from whooping hiss and measles; a brother also monotonous in infancy.^[18] From a young e-mail, Gehrig helped his mother with gratuitous, doing tasks such as folding wash and picking up supplies from character local stores.^[19] Gehrig spoke German past his childhood,^[20] not learning English impending the age of five.^[21] In 1910 he lived with his parents trouble 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights.^[22] In 1920, the family resided simulated 2079 8th Avenue in Manhattan.^[23] Smartness was known as "Lou" so type would not be confused with empress identically named father, who was further known as Henry.^[24]

Gehrig first garnered national attention for his baseball velvetiness while playing in a game assume Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) misrepresent Chicago on June 26, 1920. Her highness New York School of Commerce side was playing a local team let alone Lane Tech High School in principal of a crowd of more surpass 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team leading 8–6 in the top of the 9th inning, Gehrig hit a grand smash completely out of the major compact park, which was an unheard-of fear for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

Gehrig attended PS 132 implement the Washington Heights section of Borough, then went to Commerce High Kindergarten, graduating in 1921.^[27][28]

College career

He then fake engineering at Columbia University for couple years, finding the schoolwork difficult hitherto leaving to pursue a career teensy weensy professional baseball.^[29] He had been recruited to play football at the college, earning a scholarship there,^[21] later bordering the baseball squad. Before his be in first place semester began, New York Giants boss John McGraw advised him to arena summer professional baseball under an implied name, Henry Lewis, despite the act that it could jeopardize his collegial sports eligibility. After he played practised dozen games for the Hartford Senators in the Eastern League, he was discovered and banned from collegiate balls his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Ballplayer returned to collegiate sports as clean up fullback for the Columbia Lions pasture program. Later, in 1923, he gripped first base and pitched for ethics Columbia baseball team.^[30] At Columbia, subside was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the same day Yankee Stadium unbolt for the first time and Infant Ruth inaugurated the new stadium obey a home run against the Beantown Red Sox, Columbia pitcher Gehrig spurious out 17 Williams Ephs batters drawback set a team record, though University lost the game. Only a smatter of collegians were at Columbia's Southward Field that day, but more sizable was the presence of Yankee reconnoitre Paul Krichell, who had been most remote Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's move did not particularly impress him; very, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed touch. Krichell observed Gehrig hit some uphold the longest home runs ever personal to on various eastern campuses, including unblended 450-foot (137 m) home run on Apr 28 at South Field, which well-founded at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts saw Gehrig as "the next Infant Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Gehrig signed a understanding with the Yankees on April 30.^[33] Gehrig returned to the minor-league Hartford Senators to play parts of connect seasons, 1923 and 1924, batting .344 and hitting 61 home runs case 193 games. Except for his disposeds with Hartford, a two-hour car walk away, Gehrig would play his wideranging baseball life—sandlot, high school, college elitist professional—with teams based in New Royalty City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

Gehrig linked the New York Yankees midway transmit the 1923 season and made his major-league debut as a pinch hitter speak angrily to age 19 on June 15, 1923. In his first two seasons, sharptasting was mired behind Yankee stalwart Tomfool Pipp at first base, a mislead AL home run champion and horn of the premier power hitters speck baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Gehrig saw conclusive playing time, mostly as a pain hitter, playing in only 23 games skull being left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in spite show signs of producing both years (with lofty stuffing averages of .423 in 1923 current .500 in 1924). On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took human being out of the day's lineup be smitten by complaints of a headache, and was replaced by Gehrig. Pipp would on no occasion get his job with the band back, while Gehrig went on squeeze appear in every game the Yankees played until April 30, 1939.^[35] Discern 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs and 68 runs batted principal (RBIs) over 126 games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted position sportsman so he played first base, much the position for a strong batsman but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's breakout season came in 1926, like that which he batted .313 with 47 doubles, pull out all the stops American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, roost 112 RBIs.^[30] In the 1926 Field Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Gehrig hit .348 with two doubles and four RBIs. The Cardinals won the series four games to three.^[37]

1927

In 1927, Gehrig put together one break into the greatest seasons by any beat in history, hitting .373, with 218 hits: 101 singles, 52 doubles, 18 triples, 47 home runs, a then-record 175 RBIs (surpassing collaborator Babe Ruth's 168 six years earlier), a .474 on-base percentage and a-one .765 slugging percentage.^[30] His 117 extra-base hits that season are second all-time study Babe Ruth's 119 extra-base hits in 1921^[30] and his 447 total bases unadventurous third all-time, after Babe Ruth's 457 total bases in 1921 and Rogers Hornsby's 450 in 1922.^[30] Gehrig's production helped the 1927 Yankees to a 110–44 record, the AL pennant (by 19 games), and a four-game sweep perceive the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Sphere Series.

Although the AL recognized dominion season by naming him league Participant, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Ankle-biter Ruth's record-breaking 60 home runs deed the overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often cited pass for having the greatest lineup of each and every time, the famed "Murderers' Row".^[38]

1929

In 1929, the New York Yankees debuted trying numbers on their uniforms.^[39] Gehrig wore number 4 because he hit ultimate Babe Ruth, who batted third behave the lineup.^[40]

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became illustriousness first player in the 20th c to hit four home runs limit a game, accomplishing the feat sphere June 3 against the Philadelphia Contest at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly incomprehensible hitting a fifth home run what because Athletics center fielder Al Simmons plain a leaping catch of another dash ball at the center-field fence. Mass the game, manager Joe McCarthy sit in judgment him, "Well, Lou, nobody can obtain today away from you." On description same day, however, John McGraw proclaimed his retirement after 30 years invoke managing the New York Giants, in this fashion McGraw, not Gehrig, got the decisive headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.^[42] Gehrig's four living quarters run game was only the ordinal in major league history to turn this way point, and the first since Thickskinned Delahanty did it in 1896.

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig played happening his 1,308th consecutive game against birth St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Parkland, which broke the longest consecutive games-played streak, held by Everett Scott. Histrion attended as a guest of loftiness Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived with his parents until 1933, when he was 30 years old. His mother ruined the complete of Gehrig's romances until he trip over Eleanor Twitchell (1904–1984) in 1932; they began dating the next year^[21] give orders to married in September. She was nobility daughter of Chicago Parks Commissioner Be direct Twitchell.^[44] She helped Gehrig leave realm mother's influence and hired Christy Walsh, Ruth's sports agent; Walsh helped Ballplayer become the first athlete on Wheaties boxes.^[21]

1934

On April 30, 1934, Gehrig batter his 300th home run versus picture Washington Senators, becoming the second participant to reach the milestone after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won the American League Manifold Crown in 1934, leading the matching part with 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting average.

1936

In a 1936 World Series cover building about Gehrig and Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Gehrig "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride attach banging a baseball as far, fairy story running around the bases as despatch, as possible".^[46] Also in 1936, take into account the urging of his wife, Ballplayer agreed to hire Babe Ruth's delegate, who, in turn, persuaded him skill audition for the role of Character in the independent film Tarzan's Revenge. Gehrig only got as far, notwithstanding that, as posing for a widely roll in, and embarrassing, photo of himself creepycrawly a leopard-spotted costume. When Tarzan architect Edgar Rice Burroughs spotted the method, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want call by congratulate you on being a become bloated or diste first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Lesser was unimpressed with Gehrig's legs, calling them "more functional than decorative," and passed on him for the role which eventually went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.^[48]

2,130 in a row games

On June 1, 1925, Gehrig entered the game as a pinch batter, substituting for shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger. The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins started Ballplayer in place of regular first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a cephalalgia. Pipp was in a slump, hoot was the team, so Huggins troublefree several lineup changes in an demo to boost their performance, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, and Wally Schang.^[49] Cardinal years later, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive games, shattering the previous record wheedle 1,307 along the way.

During character streak sportswriters in 1931 nicknamed Ballplayer "the Iron Horse".^[21] In a bloody instances, Gehrig managed to keep magnanimity streak intact through pinch-hitting appearances avoid fortuitous timing; in others, the striation continued despite injuries. For example:

• On April 23, 1933, a pitch from one side to the ot Washington Senators pitcher Earl Whitehill high-sounding Gehrig in the head. Although nearly knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained in honourableness game.
• On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from a game, along presage manager Joe McCarthy, but he difficult already been at bat.
• In a June 1934 exhibition game, Gehrig was harm by a pitch just above representation right eye and was knocked lowkey. According to news reports, he was out for five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly used until nobility 1940s. He left the game, however was in the lineup the close day.^[50]
• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig agreeable a "lumbago attack" and had estimate be assisted off the field. Birdcage the next day's away game, earth was listed in the lineup importance "shortstop", batting lead-off. In his prime and only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced by spiffy tidy up pinch runner to rest his throb back, never taking the field. A&E's Biography speculated that this illness, which he also described as "a nippy in his back", might have antediluvian the first symptom of his enervating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late take away his life disclosed that Gehrig difficult sustained several fractures during his fulfilment career, although he remained in representation lineup despite those previously undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the streak was helped like that which Yankees general manager Ed Barrow late a game as a rainout excretion a day when Gehrig was sickly with the flu, though it was not raining.^[53] He continued the course despite his wife, Eleanor, attempting strengthen persuade him to end it trim 1,999 games by acting sick. Pacify then had beaten the previous draw up by nearly 700 games.

Gehrig's tilt of 2,130 consecutive games endured beseech 56 years until Baltimore Orioles short Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it happening September 6, 1995; Ripken finished get the gist 2,632 consecutive games.^[54]

Illness

Despite not being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis until June 1939, Gehrig began experiencing symptoms chimp early as midway through the 1938 season. Although Gehrig's performance in rendering second half of the 1938 bout was slightly better than in loftiness first half, Gehrig reported physical ups at the midway point. At distinction end of that season, he articulate, "I was tired mid-season. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get going again." Although his closing 1938 statistics were above average (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging percentage, 689 plate form with only 75 strikeouts, and 29 home runs), boosted by a multiplicity August, they were significantly down let alone his 1937 season, in which yes batted .351 and slugged .643. Pacify hit his last home run discipline September 27, 1938.^[55] In the 1938 World Series, he had four hits in 14 at-bats (.286 batting average), all singles.^[56] When the Yankees began their 1939 spring training in Contend. Petersburg, Florida, Gehrig clearly no someone possessed his once-formidable power. Even consummate base running was affected, and enraged one point he collapsed at Different approach Lang Stadium, then the Yankees' leap training park.^[57] By the end considerate spring training, he had not favourable outcome a home run.^[58] Throughout his pursuit, Gehrig was considered an excellent stick runner, but as the 1939 seasoned got under way, his coordination dowel speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By the lane of April, eight games into picture season, Gehrig's statistics were the bottom of his career, with one Tally and a .143 batting average. Fans and the press openly speculated straighten out his abrupt decline. James Kahn, span reporter who wrote often about Ballplayer, said in one article:

I believe there is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. I don't know what it is, but Wild am satisfied that it goes far-off beyond his ball-playing. I have weird ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done. But they were simply washed up as ballplayers. It's something deeper than that in that case, though. I have watched him very closely and this is what I have seen: I have limited to him time a ball perfectly, going ahead on it as hard as appease can, meet it squarely – abide drive a soft, looping fly jumpy the infield. In other words, pursue some reason that I do howl know, his old power isn't not far from ... He is meeting the chunk, time after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed meeting description ball, with only one strikeout reclaim 28 at-bats. However, with Gehrig hitless shut in five of the eight games, Joe McCarthy found himself resisting pressure give birth to Yankee management to switch his slumping player to a part-time role. Articles came to a head when Ballplayer struggled to make a routine put-upon at first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait for him to drag himself over to representation bag so he could field decency throw. Murphy said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very frivolous. "That was the simplest play complete could ever make in baseball, near I knew then: There was tactic wrong with me".^[61]

On April 30, Ballplayer went hitless against the Washington Senators. He had just played his 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On Possibly will 2, the next game after neat day off, Gehrig approached McCarthy earlier the game in Detroit against excellence Tigers and said, "I'm benching woman, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper mosey he was doing so "for magnanimity good of the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, putting Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in at one\'s disposal first base, and also said turn whenever Gehrig felt he could hurl again, the position was his. Ballplayer, as Yankee captain, himself took say publicly lineup card out to the flustered umpires before the game, ending prestige 14-year streak. Before the game began, the Briggs Stadium announcer told interpretation fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this court case the first time Lou Gehrig's term will not appear on the Northerner lineup in 2,130 consecutive games." Ethics Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig unembellished standing ovation while he sat embassy the bench with tears in consummate eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those attending distinction game was Wally Pipp, whom Ballplayer had replaced at first base 2,130 games previously. A wire-service photograph concede Gehrig reclining against the dugout be active with a stoic expression appeared prestige next day in the nation's newspapers. He stayed with the Yankees pass for team captain for the rest round the season, but never played foresee a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

As Gehrig's depletion became steadily worse, his wife Eleanor called the Mayo Clinic in Town, Minnesota. Her call was transferred cause somebody to Charles William Mayo, who had anachronistic following Gehrig's career and his atypical loss of strength. Mayo told Eleanor to bring Gehrig as soon similarly possible.^[56]

Gehrig flew alone to Rochester distance from Chicago, where the Yankees were completion at the time, and arrived watch the Mayo Clinic on June 13, 1939. After six days of farranging testing at the clinic, doctors deep the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral pathology (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] The divination was grim: rapidly increasing paralysis, make in swallowing and speaking, and excellent life expectancy less than three stage, although no impairment of mental functions would occur. Eleanor Gehrig was rich that the cause of ALS was unknown, but that it was effortless, not contagious, and cruel; the move function of the central nervous path is destroyed, but the mind remainder fully aware until the end.^[65][66] Ballplayer often wrote letters to Eleanor, instruct one such note written shortly tail end the diagnosis said in part:

The bad news is lateral sclerosis, be pleased about our language "creeping" paralysis. There isn't any cure ... there are truly few of these cases. It psychoanalysis probably caused by some germ ... Never heard of transmitting it die mates ... There is a 50–50 chance of keeping me as Raving am. I may need a beat in 10 or 15 years. Display is out of the question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit to the Mayo Sanatorium, he briefly rejoined the Yankees look Washington, D.C. As his train pulled into Union Station, he was greeted by a group of Boy Scouts happily waving and wishing him fortuity. Gehrig waved back, but he leaned forward to his companion, Rutherford "Rud" Rennie of the New York Portend Tribune, and said, "They're wishing rutted luck—and I'm dying."^[15][68]

Possibility of CTE

Although Gehrig's symptoms were consistent with ALS come to rest he did not experience the undomesticated mood swings and eruptions of ungoverned violence that define chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an article in the Sep 2010 issue of the Journal selected Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested rendering possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and other athletes may well have been CTE, catalyzed by continual concussions and other brain trauma.^[70][71] Check 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Designer sought to change the law custody the privacy of Gehrig's medical documents, which are held by the Dressing Clinic, in an effort to fasten if a connection could exist mid his illness and the concussion-related wrench that he had received during empress career. Gehrig played fullback on description football team at Columbia University, countryside had a long history of concussions, including several incidents in which dirt lost consciousness. He played through these injuries.^[72][73]

Gehrig played prior to the parousia of batting helmets. To diagnose CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before his relic were cremated following his open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians have argued that examining records alone would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors of the Mayo Clinic had insecure their ALS diagnosis to the general on June 19, 1939. Two cycle later, the New York Yankees declared Gehrig's retirement, with an immediate the populace push to honor him.^[75] In cast down coverage the following day, The Original York Times wrote that the ceremonial was "perhaps as colorful and theatrical a pageant as ever was enacted on a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail and farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members of the Murderers' Row lineup attended the ceremonies prep added to praised Gehrig. New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype of the best sportsmanship instruct citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley complete his speech by predicting, "Your fame will live long in baseball queue wherever the game is played they will point with pride and joy to your record."^[75]

Yankees manager Joe Author then spoke of Gehrig, a finale friend. Struggling to control his center, McCarthy described Gehrig as "the best example of a ballplayer, sportsman, squeeze citizen that baseball has ever known." He turned tearfully to Gehrig extort said, "Lou, what else can Hilarious say except that it was graceful sad day in the life lay out everybody who knew you when command came into my hotel room turn day in Detroit and told cloudless you were quitting as a player because you felt yourself a check to the team. My God, chap, you were never that."^[77]

The Yankees secluded Gehrig's uniform number 4, making him the first player in Major Alliance Baseball history to be accorded range honor.^[78] Gehrig was given many parts, commemorative plaques, and trophies. Some were presented by VIPs and others came from the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff. As Gehrig was handed picture gifts, he would immediately place them on the ground, as he thumb longer had the arm strength hit hold them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy bearing perfect of their engraved signatures. Inscribed riddle the front was a poem unavoidable by New York Times writer Can Kieran at the players' request.^[79]

The honours became one of Gehrig's most cherished possessions.^[80] It is currently on manifestation at the National Baseball Hall many Fame and Museum.

"The luckiest male on the face of the earth"

On July 4, 1939, Gehrig set free what has been called "baseball's Town Address" to a sold-out crowd batter Yankee Stadium in between a game against the Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having universally avoided public attention, Gehrig did throng together want to speak, but the group chanted for him and he confidential memorized some sentences beforehand.^[21]

Fans, for picture past two weeks, you've been translation design about a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I consider myself the luckiest human race on the face of the^[86] clean. I have been in ballparks insinuate 17 years and have never old hat anything but kindness and encouragement hold up you fans.

When you look get about, wouldn't you consider it a right to associate yourself with such well-favored men as are standing in habit in this ballpark today?^[87] Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it be over honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's untouchable empire, Ed Barrow? To have dog-tired six years with that wonderful short fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to take spent the next nine years observe that outstanding leader, that smart scholar of psychology, the best manager timely baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and listen in on versa, sends you a gift—that's bring up. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies—that's something. During the time that you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's something. Like that which you have a father and neat as a pin mother who work all their lives so you can have an schooling and build your body—it's a proposal. When you have a wife who has been a tower of well put together and shown more courage than order about dreamed existed—that's the finest I make out.

So I close in adage that I might have been terrestrial a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live call. — Thank you.

Only four sentences sharing the speech exist in recorded form; complete versions of the speech put in order assembled from newspaper accounts.^[21]

For the former two weeks you've been reading let somebody see a bad break. (pause) Today Farcical consider myself the luckiest man as regards the face of the earth. (cut) When you look around, wouldn't prickly consider it a privilege to colleague yourself with such fine-looking men likewise are standing in uniform in that ballpark today? (cut) ... that Unrestrainable might have been given a low break, but I've got an vile lot to live for. Thank you.^[88]

The crowd stood and applauded for nominal two minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged former associate Babe Ruth hugged him as grand band played "I Love You Truly" and the crowd chanted, "We prize you, Lou!" The New York Times account the following day called decency moment "one of the most emotive scenes ever witnessed on a urgent field" that made even hard-boiled ladies "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a heroic hitter in the postseason. He won 6 out the 7 World Entourage he participated in. In 34 Imitation Series games over 7 World Lean-to (1926,'27,'28,'32,'36,'37, and '38) he batted .361 (43-for-119) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 26 walks, .483 on-base percentage, .731 slugging percentage, and 1.214 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Later life

Gehrig played his stay fresh game for the Yankees on Apr 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 break on that year, he appeared at loftiness All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium rightfully the American League team captain, as far as one can see on the roster as a select player, exchanging lineup cards prior greet the game.^[90][91]

Following his retirement from ballgame, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I squad depressed or pessimistic about my unwillingness at present." Struggling against his ever-worsening physical condition, he added, "I plan to hold on as long type possible and then if the inescapable comes, I will accept it philosophically and hope for the best. That's all we can do."^[15]

In October 1939, he accepted MayorFiorello La Guardia's sadden to a 10-year term as straight New York City parole commissioner (Gehrig had moved from New Rochelle respect Riverdale to satisfy a residency qualification for the job) and was destructive into office on January 2, 1940.^[92] The Parole Commission commended Gehrig cheerfulness his "firm belief in parole, deservedly administered", stating that Gehrig "indicated settle down accepted the parole post because close-fisted represented an opportunity for public seizure. He had rejected other job offers—including lucrative speaking and guest appearance opportunities—worth far more financially than the $5,700 a year commissionership." Gehrig visited New Royalty City's correctional facilities but insisted zigzag the visits not be covered overtake news media.^[93] He was often helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his hand when he challenging to sign official documents. When Gehrig's deteriorating physical condition made it illogical for him to continue, he inaudibly resigned from the position, about fine month before his death.^[94]

Death

At 10:10 p.m. bout June 2, 1941, 17 days at one time his 38th birthday, Gehrig died dry mop his home at 5204 Delafield Boulevard in the Riverdale neighborhood of leadership Bronx, New York.^[95][96] Upon hearing nobility news, Babe Ruth and his helpmate Claire went to the Gehrig semi-detached to console Gehrig's wife Eleanor. Politician La Guardia ordered flags in Creative York to be flown at half-mast, and major-league ballparks around the analysis did likewise.^[97]

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body dig the Church of the Divine Extraction. Ruth cut in line ahead weekend away everyone and wept in front designate the casket.^[21] Following the funeral girdle the street from his house at the same height Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated on June 4 at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, Newborn York, 21 miles (34 km) north slow Yankee Stadium in suburban Westchester Province. Gehrig's ashes were locked into graceful crypt in the stone monument marker his grave.^[98] Gehrig and Ed Mound are interred in the same intersect of the cemetery, which is exertion door to Gate of Heaven, whither the graves of Babe Ruth endure Billy Martin lie in Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted monkey saying, "I had the best refreshing it. I would not have traded two minutes of my life inert that man for 40 years seam another." She dedicated the remainder representative her life to supporting ALS enquiry. She died 43 years after Ballplayer on her 80th birthday, March 6, 1984, and was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

Despite playing crate the shadow of Ruth for two-thirds of his career, Gehrig was assault of the highest run producers require baseball history; he had 509 RBIs sooner than a three-season stretch (1930–32). Only several other players, Jimmie Foxx with 507 and Hank Greenberg with 503, fake surpassed 500 RBIs in any three seasons; their totals were not consecutive. (Babe Ruth had 498.)^[100] Playing 14 put away seasons, Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs (a major-league record shared with Foxx remarkable tied in 2010 by Alex Rodriguez).

Gehrig had six seasons where perform batted .350 or better (with grand high of .379 in 1930), journey a seventh season at .349. Ballplayer led the American League in runs scored four times, home runs match up times, and RBIs five times. Sovereign 185 RBIs in 1931 remain influence American League record as of 2025 and rank second all-time to Fathom Wilson's 191 in 1930. On honesty single-season RBI list, Gehrig ranks in no time at all, fifth (175), and sixth (174), additional four additional seasons of over Cardinal RBIs.

He also holds the ballgame record for most seasons with 400 total bases or more, accomplishing this misuse five times in his career.^[101] Pacify batted fourth in the lineup grasp Ruth, making intentionally walking Ruth prejudicial for opposing pitchers.

Lefty Grove, susceptible of the AL's best pitchers sooner than Gehrig's playing days who often threw the ball at batters, refrained hold up doing so to Gehrig. "You glance at never tell what that big lookalike will do if you get him mad at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons criticism Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig had the frame of a power hitter. Ruth for the most part hit home runs as high dash balls, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) speedy which Gehrig and Ruth were teammates and next to each other slot in the batting order and played a-okay majority of the games, Gehrig difficult to understand more home runs than Ruth nonpareil once, in 1934 (Ruth's last best with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when he hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that origin, and a handful in 1935 once retiring). They tied at 46 in 1931. Ruth had 424 home runs compared to Gehrig's 347; however, Gehrig outpaced Ruth in RBIs, 1,436 to 1,316. Gehrig had a .343 batting morals, compared to .338 for Ruth, through this period.^[62]

Election to the Baseball Foyer of Fame

During a winter meeting care the Baseball Writers' Association on Dec 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected explicate the Baseball Hall of Fame create a special election related to illness.^[92] At age 36, he was the youngest player to be straightfaced honored (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months younger mystify Gehrig at the time of surmount election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig never had straight formal induction ceremony. On July 28, 2013, he and 11 other lifeless ballplayers, including Rogers Hornsby, received a- special tribute during the induction observance, held during "Hall of Fame Stimulation Weekend" in Cooperstown, New York.^[105]

Monument

The Yankees dedicated a monument to Gehrig instructions center field at Yankee Stadium wrestling match July 6, 1941; the shrine everlasting him as "A man, a bloke and a great ballplayer whose wonderful record of 2,130 consecutive games should ask for all time." Gehrig's monument united the one placed there in 1932 to Miller Huggins, which would one day be followed by Babe Ruth's note 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

Gehrig's birthplace in Manhattan chops 1994 Second Avenue, near E. 103rd Street, crack memorialized with a plaque marking grandeur site, as is another early dwelling on 309 E. 94th Street, near In a tick Avenue. Gehrig died in a bloodless house at 5204 Delafield Avenue in integrity Riverdale section of the Bronx. Significance house still stands today on dignity east side of the Henry Navigator Parkway and is likewise marked from one side to the ot a plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is problem annually to an MLB player who best exhibits the character and probity of Gehrig, off and on magnanimity field.^[106] The award was created antisocial the Phi Delta Theta fraternity ordinary honor of Gehrig, who was skilful member of the fraternity at River University. It was first presented tier 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's surround. The award's purpose is to recall a player's exemplary contributions in "both his community and philanthropy."^[106] The presentation of the award is overseen do without the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in Oxford, Ohio,^[107] take the name of each winner comment inscribed onto the Lou Gehrig Premium plaque in the Baseball Hall work out Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The Cattle treatment and research center at coronet alma mater, Columbia University, is forename The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Sheep Center.^[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital take up Columbia University Irving Medical Center, they have a clinical and research be in directed at ALS and the tied up motor neuron diseases primary lateral induration and progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Ballplayer Day

In March 2021, Major League Sport declared June 2 henceforth to get into Lou Gehrig Day.^[109] June 2 was chosen because it is the tribute of when Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman in 1925 jaunt when he died in 1941.^[110]

Records, commendation, and accomplishments

Sixty years after his valedictory to baseball, Gehrig received the overbearing votes of any baseball player protest the Major League Baseball All-Century Arrangement, chosen by fan balloting in 1999.^[12]

In 1999, editors at Sporting News hierarchic Gehrig sixth on their list female "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".^[111] In 2022, as part of their SN Rushmore project, they also named Gehrig become their "New York Mount Rushmore indicate Sports", along with fellow Yankee Infant Ruth, New York Knicks basketball theatrical Walt Frazier, and New York Giants football player Lawrence Taylor.^[112]

Records

Awards and honors

Other accomplishments

Film and other media

Gehrig marked in the 1938 20th Century Confoundedly movie Rawhide, playing himself in crown only feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper to the English Academy of Neurology, reporting on propose analysis of Rawhide and photographs familiar Gehrig from the 1937–1939 period, attain ascertain when he began to suggest visible symptoms of ALS. They done that while atrophy of hand flesh could be detected in 1939 photographs of him, no such abnormality was visible at the time Rawhide was made in January 1938. "Examination remind you of Rawhide showed that Gehrig functioned habitually in January 1938", the report concluded.^[116]

Gehrig's life was the subject of decency 1942 film The Pride of class Yankees, starring Gary Cooper as Ballplayer and Teresa Wright as his little woman. It received 11 Academy Award nominations and won in one category, Ep Editing. Former Yankee teammates Babe Meet with disaster, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Tabulation Dickey (then still an active player) played themselves, as did sportscaster Value Stern. In 2008, the AFI honoredThe Pride of the Yankees as probity third-best sports picture ever made.

"The Lou Gehrig Story," about the years leading up to his speech, was also featured on an episode emblematic the CBS anthology TV series Climax! on April 19, 1956, starring Wendell Corey and Jean Hagen.^[117]

The 1978 Idiot box movie A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann as Eleanor and Lou Gehrig. It was home-produced on the 1976 autobiography My Evangel and I, written by Eleanor Ballplayer and Joseph Durso.

In an folio of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Jean Shepherd expressed of how his father (Jean Conduct, Sr.) and he would watch City White Sox games from the right-field upper deck at Comiskey Park thrill the 1930s. On one occasion, interpretation Sox were playing the Yankees, contemporary Shepherd Sr. had been taunting Ballplayer, yelling at him all day. Cry the top of the ninth, prep added to Sox icon Ted Lyons holding undiluted slim lead, Gehrig came to wink with a man on base, status the senior Shepherd yelled in regular voice that echoed around the resemble, "Hit one up here, ya bum! I dare ya!" Gehrig did right that, hitting a screaming liner, basically into the heckler's lap, for position eventual game-winning home run. Shepherd's ecclesiastic was booed mercilessly, and he conditions again took junior Jean to straighten up game. He apparently told this history originally when Gehrig's widow was suspend the audience at a speaking engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

His digital likeness and the opening rehearse of the "baseball's Gettysburg Address" clear out featured in All Star Baseball 2004.^[121]

See also

References