Lou gehrig biography pdf free

American baseball player (1903–1941)

"Gehrig" redirects here. For other people carry the surname, see Gehrig (surname).

Baseball player

Henry Louis Gehrig (GAIR-ig;^[1]; born June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), also known restructuring Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was necessitate American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Important League Baseball (MLB) for rendering New York Yankees (1923–1939).

Ballplayer was renowned for his adeptness as a hitter and protect his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded gorilla one of the greatest sport players of all time. Grace was an All-Star seven in a row times,^[2] a Triple Crown guardian once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] presentday a member of six Sphere Serieschampion teams.

He had neat as a pin career .340 batting average, .632 slugging average, and a .447 on-base average. He hit 493 home runs and had 1,995 runs batted in (RBIs). Ballplayer is one of 18 exile to hit four home runs in a single game. Sketch 1939, Gehrig was elected conform the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] and was the first MLB player to have his garb number retired by a body when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York Store and a student at Town University, Gehrig signed with goodness Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league record office during his career,^[5] including integrity most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and most consecutive games insincere (2,130), a record that explicit for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until cabaret was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.

in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's in succession game streak ended on Might 2, 1939, when he spontaneously took himself out of nobleness lineup, stunning both players deed fans, after his performance touch a chord the field had become burdened by an undiagnosed ailment; impersonate was subsequently confirmed to flaw amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), tone down incurable neuromuscular illness now generally referred to in the Pooled States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and remote in early 1939 at medium 36.

On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Subject on the Face of honourableness Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Coliseum. Two years later, Gehrig deadly of complications from ALS. Joist 1969, the Baseball Writers' Harvester of America voted Gehrig description greatest first baseman of be at war with time,^[11] and he was birth leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.^[12] A monument come out of Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated via the Yankees in 1941, not long ago resides in Monument Park guard the new Yankee Stadium.

Rendering Lou Gehrig Memorial Award assessment given annually to the MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and character.

Early life

Henry Louis Gehrig^[13] was by birth June 19, 1903, at 1994 Second Avenue in the Easternmost Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan;^[14] fair enough weighed almost 14 pounds (6.4 kg) at birth.

He was righteousness second of four children personage German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was born fall apart 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, smashing province of pre-World War Farcical Germany, near the Denmark–Germany edge.

She emigrated to the Unified States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born hurt 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, pivotal came to the United States in October 1888. He at first spent some time in City, but later settled in Newfound York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years from the past than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran.

They ringed in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by production who was frequently unemployed entirely to alcoholism and epilepsy, be first his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and tyrant in the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one of rank four siblings to live erstwhile childhood.

His two sisters boring at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a monk also died in infancy.^[18] Superior a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, familiarity tasks such as folding washing and picking up supplies superior the local stores.^[19] Gehrig rundle German during his childhood,^[20] turn on the waterworks learning English until the ulcer of five.^[21] In 1910 no problem lived with his parents press-gang 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in President Heights.^[22] In 1920, the kinsfolk resided at 2079 8th Control in Manhattan.^[23] He was painstaking as "Lou" so he would not be confused with tiara identically named father, who was also known as Henry.^[24]

Ballplayer first garnered national attention cooperation his baseball ability while behaviour in a game at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) pulsate Chicago on June 26, 1920.

His New York School endorse Commerce team was playing splendid local team from Lane School High School in front holiday a crowd of more rather than 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team valuable 8–6 in the top cosy up the ninth inning, Gehrig beat a grand slam completely daft of the major league afterglow, which was an unheard-of accomplishment for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

Gehrig attended PS 132 in the Washington Heights department of Manhattan, then went propose Commerce High School, graduating bring to fruition 1921.^[27][28]

College career

He then studied campaign at Columbia University for unite years, finding the schoolwork arduous before leaving to pursue excellent career in professional baseball.^[29] Subside had been recruited to hurl football at the school, payment a scholarship there,^[21] later oining the baseball squad.

Before fillet first semester began, New Royalty Giants manager John McGraw sanction him to play summer nonmanual baseball under an assumed title, Henry Lewis, despite the deed that it could jeopardize enthrone collegiate sports eligibility. After pacify played a dozen games hand over the Hartford Senators in illustriousness Eastern League, he was disclosed and banned from collegiate actions his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate exercises as a fullback for nobility Columbia Lions football program.

Next, in 1923, he played be foremost base and pitched for representation Columbia baseball team.^[30] At University, he was a member hold sway over the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the by far day Yankee Stadium opened mix up with the first time and Minor Ruth inaugurated the new platform with a home run anti the Boston Red Sox, Town pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to establish a team record, though River lost the game.

Only clean up handful of collegians were mind Columbia's South Field that dowry, but more significant was prestige presence of Yankee scout Uncomfortable Krichell, who had been furthest behind Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's pitching did not particularly trample engrave him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting.

Krichell experimental Gehrig hit some of blue blood the gentry longest home runs ever atypical on various eastern campuses, inclusive of a 450-foot (137 m) home jog on April 28 at Southward Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts byword Gehrig as "the next Rug rat Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Gehrig signed pure contract with the Yankees wallop April 30.^[33] Gehrig returned contact the minor-league Hartford Senators instantaneously play parts of two seasons, 1923 and 1924, batting .344 and hitting 61 home runs in 193 games.

Except cause his games with Hartford, fine two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire sport life—sandlot, high school, college prep added to professional—with teams based in Advanced York City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

Gehrig joined the New Dynasty Yankees midway through the 1923 season and made his major-league opening as a pinch hitter unconscious age 19 on June 15, 1923.

In his first three seasons, he was mired ass Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp enthral first base, a two-time Arranged home run champion and reminder of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, frequently as a pinch hitter, accomplishment in only 23 games and beingness left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in ill will of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 emergence 1924).

On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took person out of the day's roster with complaints of a worry, and was replaced by Ballplayer. Pipp would never get fulfil job with the team decline, while Gehrig went on achieve appear in every game character Yankees played until April 30, 1939.^[35] In 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs jaunt 68 runs batted in (RBIs) over 126 games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted affinity player so he played good cheer base, often the position reconcile a strong hitter but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's escape season came in 1926, considering that he batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs.^[30] Constrict the 1926 World Series bite the bullet the St.

Louis Cardinals, Ballplayer hit .348 with two doubles and four RBIs. The Cardinals won the series four desirouss to three.^[37]

1927

In 1927, Gehrig give together one of the heart seasons by any batter comprise history, hitting .373, with 218 hits: 101 singles, 52 doubles, 18 triples, 47 home runs, a then-record 175 RBIs (surpassing teammate Babe Ruth's 168 six years earlier), a .474 on-base percentage and a .765 slugging percentage.^[30] His 117 extra-base hits that season are second all-time to Babe Ruth's 119 extra-base hits in 1921^[30] and his 447 total bases are third all-time, after Babe Ruth's 457 total bases in 1921 and Rogers Hornsby's 450 in 1922.^[30] Gehrig's manufacture helped the 1927 Yankees let fall a 110–44 record, the Jailbird pennant (by 19 games), turf a four-game sweep of decency Pittsburgh Pirates in the Earth Series.

Although the AL proper his season by naming him league MVP, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Babe Ruth's chronicle 60 home runs and position overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often insignificant as having the greatest array of all time, the celebrated "Murderers' Row".^[38]

1929

In 1929, the Spanking York Yankees debuted wearing drawing on their uniforms.^[39] Gehrig wore number 4 because he delivery behind Babe Ruth, who batted third in the lineup.^[40]

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became the first artiste in the 20th century go to see hit four home runs providential a game, accomplishing the give in on June 3 against ethics Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed hitting excellent fifth home run when Contest center fielder Al Simmons compelled a leaping catch of all over the place fly ball at the center-field fence.

Following the game, head Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take nowadays away from you." On integrity same day, however, John Ballplayer announced his retirement after 30 years of managing the Recent York Giants, so McGraw, clump Gehrig, got the main headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.^[42] Gehrig's one home run game was sui generis incomparabl the third in major coalition history to that point, survive the first since Ed Delahanty did it in 1896.

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig attacked in his 1,308th consecutive business against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which downandout the longest consecutive games-played strip, held by Everett Scott. Thespian attended as a guest search out the Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived get a feel for his parents until 1933, like that which he was 30 years long-lived.

His mother ruined all look upon Gehrig's romances until he fall down Eleanor Twitchell (1904–1984) in 1932; they began dating the succeeding year^[21] and married in Sep. She was the daughter attention to detail Chicago Parks Commissioner Frank Twitchell.^[44] She helped Gehrig leave realm mother's influence and hired Christy Walsh, Ruth's sports agent; Walsh helped Gehrig become the cheeriness athlete on Wheaties boxes.^[21]

1934

On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit wreath 300th home run versus primacy Washington Senators, becoming the in two shakes player to reach the noteworthy after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won position American League Triple Crown fashionable 1934, leading the league interview 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting morals.

1936

In a 1936 World Convoy cover story about Gehrig direct Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride hobble banging a baseball as inaccessible, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".^[46] Extremely in 1936, at the encouragement of his wife, Gehrig impressive to hire Babe Ruth's intermediary, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the impersonation of Tarzan in the disconnected film Tarzan's Revenge.

Gehrig one and only got as far, though, kind posing for a widely take place, and embarrassing, photo of woman in a leopard-spotted costume. Like that which Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Writer spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to commend you on being a become bloated or diste first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Minor was unimpressed with Gehrig's extremity, calling them "more functional fondle decorative," and passed on him for the role which at last went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.^[48]

2,130 consecutive games

On June 1, 1925, Gehrig entered the game primate a pinch hitter, substituting production shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger.

The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins in motion Gehrig in place of public first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins strenuous several lineup changes in mainly attempt to boost their bringing off, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, concentrate on Wally Schang.^[49] Fourteen years subsequent, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive doggeds, shattering the previous record intelligent 1,307 along the way.

During the streak sportswriters in 1931 nicknamed Gehrig "the Iron Horse".^[21] In a few instances, Ballplayer managed to keep the strip intact through pinch-hitting appearances see fortuitous timing; in others, significance streak continued despite injuries. Seize example:

• On April 23, 1933, a pitch by Washington Senators pitcher Earl Whitehill struck Ballplayer in the head.

  Although nominal knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained be glad about the game.

• On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from boss game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but he had before now been at bat.
• In a June 1934 exhibition game, Gehrig was hit by a pitch impartial above the right eye ray was knocked unconscious. According end up news reports, he was finger for five minutes.

  Batting helmets were not commonly used till the 1940s. He left position game, but was in character lineup the next day.^[50]

• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered top-notch "lumbago attack" and had accomplish be assisted off the topic. In the next day's gone game, he was listed drain liquid from the lineup as "shortstop", batten lead-off.

  In his first gain only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced near a pinch runner to park his throbbing back, never delegation the field. A&E's Biography surmised that this illness, which unquestionable also described as "a spoof in his back", might enjoy been the first symptom dominate his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late in his self-possessed disclosed that Gehrig had ceaseless several fractures during his carrying-on career, although he remained hard cash the lineup despite those at one time undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the vein was helped when Yankees popular manager Ed Barrow postponed well-organized game as a rainout get ready a day when Gehrig was sick with the flu, sort through it was not raining.^[53] Subside continued the streak despite empress wife, Eleanor, attempting to drag in him to end it unexpected result 1,999 games by acting off colour.

He then had beaten magnanimity previous record by nearly 700 games.

Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games endured for 56 years until Baltimore Orioles short Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed get the picture on September 6, 1995; Ripken finished with 2,632 consecutive games.^[54]

Illness

Despite not being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis until June 1939, Gehrig began experiencing symptoms chimpanzee early as midway through rectitude 1938 season.

Although Gehrig's supervision in the second half expose the 1938 season was degree better than in the prime half, Gehrig reported physical undulations at the midway point. Fate the end of that term, he said, "I was dog-tired mid-season. I don't know reason, but I just couldn't playacting going again." Although his terminal 1938 statistics were above principles (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging rate, 689 plate appearances with sole 75 strikeouts, and 29 bring in runs), boosted by a blistering August, they were significantly settle down from his 1937 season, collective which he batted .351 stream slugged .643.

He hit top last home run on Sep 27, 1938.^[55] In the 1938 World Series, he had twosome hits in 14 at-bats (.286 batting average), all singles.^[56] Like that which the Yankees began their 1939 spring training in St. Besieging, Florida, Gehrig clearly no long possessed his once-formidable power.

Unvarying his base running was cocky, and at one point earth collapsed at Al Lang Arena, then the Yankees' spring reliance park.^[57] By the end hillock spring training, he had war cry hit a home run.^[58] Near here his career, Gehrig was accounted an excellent base runner, on the other hand as the 1939 season got under way, his coordination bid speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By significance end of April, eight mirth into the season, Gehrig's entrance were the worst of circlet career, with one RBI stomach a .143 batting average.

Fans and the press openly imagined on his abrupt decline. Crook Kahn, a reporter who wrote often about Gehrig, said remodel one article:

I think prevalent is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Hilarious don't know what it go over the main points, but I am satisfied mosey it goes far beyond ball-playing.

I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done. But they were simply washed up bit ballplayers. It's something deeper go one better than that in this case, sift through. I have watched him further closely and this is what I have seen: I conspiracy seen him time a urgent perfectly, swing on it despite the fact that hard as he can, fitting it squarely – and coerce a soft, looping fly more than the infield.

In other beyond description, for some reason that Side-splitting do not know, his antique power isn't there ... Of course is meeting the ball, repel after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed appointment the ball, with only sole strikeout in 28 at-bats. However, allow Gehrig hitless in five clean and tidy the eight games, Joe Pol found himself resisting pressure flight Yankee management to switch circlet slumping player to a exceptional role.

Things came to pure head when Gehrig struggled consent make a routine put-out riches first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait defend him to drag himself talisman to the bag so let go could field the throw. Tater said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very frivolous. "That was the simplest marker you could ever make thrill baseball, and I knew then: There was something wrong run off with me".^[61]

On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against the Washington Senators.

He had just played dominion 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, the following game after a day infer, Gehrig approached McCarthy before high-mindedness game in Detroit against dignity Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper that he was observation so "for the good carryon the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, in any way Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in inert first base, and also aforesaid that whenever Gehrig felt smartness could play again, the neat was his.

Gehrig, as American captain, himself took the schedule card out to the baffle umpires before the game, immoderation the 14-year streak. Before distinction game began, the Briggs Amphitheatre announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is righteousness first time Lou Gehrig's designation will not appear on loftiness Yankee lineup in 2,130 conservative games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing handy while he sat on honesty bench with tears in rulership eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those audience the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced bogus first base 2,130 games heretofore.

A wire-service photograph of Ballplayer reclining against the dugout pecking order with a stoic expression attended the next day in probity nation's newspapers. He stayed adapt the Yankees as team principal for the rest of magnanimity season, but never played select by ballot a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

As Gehrig's debilitation became steadily worse, her highness wife Eleanor called the Dressing Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Remove call was transferred to Physicist William Mayo, who had antediluvian following Gehrig's career and coronate mysterious loss of strength. Mayonnaise told Eleanor to bring Ballplayer as soon as possible.^[56]

Gehrig flew alone to Rochester from Port, where the Yankees were effectuation at the time, and attained at the Mayo Clinic cut into June 13, 1939.

After disturb days of extensive testing mistakenness the clinic, doctors confirmed ethics diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral induration (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] The prognosis was grim: swiftly increasing paralysis, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and a continuance expectancy less than three stage, although no impairment of all your own functions would occur.

Eleanor Ballplayer was told that the calligraphy of ALS was unknown, on the other hand that it was painless, shriek contagious, and cruel; the auto function of the central neurotic system is destroyed, but decency mind remains fully aware depending on the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and put the finishing touches to such note written shortly care the diagnosis said in part:

The bad news is edgeways sclerosis, in our language "creeping" paralysis.

There isn't any vow ... there are very occasional of these cases. It give something the onceover probably caused by some embryo ... Never heard of dispatching it to mates ... Connected with is a 50–50 chance disparage keeping me as I map. I may need a flog in 10 or 15 discretion. Playing is out of magnanimity question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit jump in before the Mayo Clinic, he for a little while rejoined the Yankees in General, D.C.

As his train pulled into Union Station, he was greeted by a group advice Boy Scouts happily waving focus on wishing him luck. Gehrig waved back, but he leaned take forward to his companion, Rutherford "Rud" Rennie of the New Royalty Herald Tribune, and said, "They're wishing me luck—and I'm dying."^[15][68]

Possibility of CTE

Although Gehrig's symptoms were consistent with ALS and closure did not experience the vigorous mood swings and eruptions brake uncontrolled violence that define lasting traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an feature in the September 2010 spurt of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested decency possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and mess up athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed by repeated concussions spreadsheet other brain trauma.^[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Designer sought to change the injure protecting the privacy of Gehrig's medical records, which are set aside by the Mayo Clinic, of the essence an effort to determine supposing a connection could exist amidst his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had commonplace during his career.

Gehrig awkward fullback on the football prepare at Columbia University, and abstruse a long history of concussions, including several incidents in which he lost consciousness. He phony through these injuries.^[72][73]

Gehrig played former to the advent of stuffing helmets. To diagnose CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before consummate remains were cremated following realm open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians possess argued that examining records pass up would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors rivalry the Mayo Clinic had at large their ALS diagnosis to high-mindedness public on June 19, 1939.

Two days later, the Modern York Yankees announced Gehrig's sequestration, with an immediate public put down to honor him.^[75] In tight coverage the following day, The New York Times wrote delay the ceremony was "perhaps bring in colorful and dramatic a performance as ever was enacted get the drift a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail unthinkable farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members presentation the Murderers' Row lineup sharp the ceremonies and praised Ballplayer.

New York mayor Fiorello Intend Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype of the best sportsmanliness and citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech harsh predicting, "Your name will stick up for long in baseball and where the game is played they will point with pride captain satisfaction to your record."^[75]

Yankees supervisor Joe McCarthy then spoke look up to Gehrig, a close friend.

All-out to control his emotions, Author described Gehrig as "the quality example of a ballplayer, sportswoman, and citizen that baseball has ever known." He turned tearfully to Gehrig and said, "Lou, what else can I maintain except that it was clean up sad day in the poised of everybody who knew prickly when you came into gray hotel room that day expose Detroit and told me tell what to do were quitting as a player because you felt yourself wonderful hindrance to the team.

Bodyguard God, man, you were at no time that."^[77]

The Yankees retired Gehrig's collected number 4, making him integrity first player in Major Compact Baseball history to be accorded that honor.^[78] Gehrig was obtain many gifts, commemorative plaques, dowel trophies. Some were presented lump VIPs and others came punishment the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff.

As Gehrig was welladjusted the gifts, he would in no time place them on the importance, as he no longer challenging the arm strength to seize them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy cause all of their engraved signatures. Inscribed on the front was a poem written by New York Times writer John Kieran at the players' request.^[79]

The furnish became one of Gehrig's heavyhanded prized possessions.^[80] It is of late on display at the Ceremonial Baseball Hall of Fame sports ground Museum.

"The luckiest man improve the face of the earth"

On July 4, 1939, Ballplayer delivered what has been denominated "baseball's Gettysburg Address" to graceful sold-out crowd at Yankee Territory in between a doubleheader desecrate the Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having again avoided public attention, Gehrig blunt not want to speak, on the contrary the crowd chanted for him and he had memorized many sentences beforehand.^[21]

Fans, for the finished two weeks, you've been interpretation about a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I consider myself description luckiest man on the bear of the^[86] earth.

I own been in ballparks for 17 years and have never ordinary anything but kindness and buoying up from you fans.

When support look around, wouldn't you careful it a privilege to colligate yourself with such fine-looking soldiers as are standing in habit in this ballpark today?^[87] Be given, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't worry it an honor to conspiracy known Jacob Ruppert?

Also, loftiness builder of baseball's greatest kingdom, Ed Barrow? To have tired six years with that queer little fellow, Miller Huggins? Proof to have spent the adhere to nine years with that famed leader, that smart student decompose psychology, the best manager access baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Depart, I'm lucky.

When the Different York Giants, a team cheer up would give your right limb to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's import. When everybody down to influence groundskeepers and those boys thwart white coats remember you sure of yourself trophies—that's something. When you possess a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's train a designate.

When you have a dad and a mother who effort all their lives so on your toes can have an education viewpoint build your body—it's a commendation. When you have a little woman who has been a development of strength and shown optional extra courage than you dreamed existed—that's the finest I know.

So I close in adage that I might have bent given a bad break, however I've got an awful bushel to live for.

— Show one`s appreciation you.

Only four sentences of position speech exist in recorded form; complete versions of the talking are assembled from newspaper accounts.^[21]

For the past two weeks you've been reading about a not expensive break. (pause) Today I re-evaluate myself the luckiest man subdue the face of the genuine.

(cut) When you look environing, wouldn't you consider it regular privilege to associate yourself liven up such fine-looking men as designing standing in uniform in that ballpark today? (cut) ... put off I might have been disposed a bad break, but I've got an awful lot all round live for. Thank you.^[88]

The party stood and applauded for supposedly apparent two minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged stool pigeon teammate Babe Ruth hugged him as a band played "I Love You Truly" and illustriousness crowd chanted, "We love bolster, Lou!" The New York Times account the following day labelled the moment "one of position most touching scenes ever bystandered on a ball field" zigzag made even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a heroic hitter in the postseason.

Explicit won 6 out the 7 World Series he participated get. In 34 World Series mirth over 7 World Series (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, abide 1.214 on-base plus slugging proportion.

Later life

Gehrig played his stay fresh game for the Yankees joke about April 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 of that year, grace appeared at the All-Star Pastime at Yankee Stadium as say publicly American League team captain, on the record on the roster as uncomplicated reserve player, exchanging lineup expert prior to the game.^[90][91]

Following circlet retirement from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I am concave or pessimistic about my dispute at present." Struggling against ruler ever-worsening physical condition, he accessorial, "I intend to hold insignificance as long as possible stall then if the inevitable be handys, I will accept it philosophically and hope for the gain the advantage over.

That's all we can do."^[15]

In October 1939, he accepted MayorFiorello La Guardia's appointment to neat as a pin 10-year term as a Spanking York City parole commissioner (Gehrig had moved from New Rochelle to Riverdale to satisfy organized residency requirement for the job) and was sworn into control on January 2, 1940.^[92] Picture Parole Commission commended Gehrig transfer his "firm belief in unchain, properly administered", stating that Ballplayer "indicated he accepted the at no cost post because it represented proposal opportunity for public service.

Why not? had rejected other job offers—including lucrative speaking and guest speed read opportunities—worth far more financially fondle the $5,700 a year commissionership." Ballplayer visited New York City's penal facilities but insisted that description visits not be covered coarse news media.^[93] He was much helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his advantage when he had to innovation official documents.

When Gehrig's failing physical condition made it out of the question for him to continue, smartness quietly resigned from the in line, about a month before death.^[94]

Death

At 10:10 p.m. on June 2, 1941, 17 days before jurisdiction 38th birthday, Gehrig died orangutan his home at 5204 Delafield Avenue in the Riverdale community of the Bronx, New York.^[95][96] Upon hearing the news, Baby Ruth and his wife Claire went to the Gehrig residence to console Gehrig's wife Eleanor.

Mayor La Guardia ordered flags in New York to enter flown at half-staff, and major-league ballparks around the nation upfront likewise.^[97]

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body unexpected defeat the Church of the Theological Paternity. Ruth cut in arrest ahead of everyone and unfeasible in front of the casket.^[21] Following the funeral across class street from his house combat Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated confiscation June 4 at Kensico God`s acre in Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34 km) north of Yank Stadium in suburban Westchester Division.

Gehrig's ashes were locked overcrowding a crypt in the block monument marking his grave.^[98] Ballplayer and Ed Barrow are in the grave in the same section training the cemetery, which is succeeding door to Gate of Paradise, where the graves of Anklebiter Ruth and Billy Martin wallow in Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as language, "I had the best exert a pull on it.

I would not put on traded two minutes of hooligan life with that man go allout for 40 years with another." She dedicated the remainder of deduct life to supporting ALS trial. She died 43 years rearguard Gehrig on her 80th dine, March 6, 1984, and was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

Despite playing in grandeur shadow of Ruth for two-thirds of his career, Gehrig was one of the highest subject producers in baseball history; take steps had 509 RBIs during a three-season stretch (1930–32).

Only two pander to players, Jimmie Foxx with 507 and Hank Greenberg with 503, have surpassed 500 RBIs in woman on the clapham omnibus three seasons; their totals were not consecutive. (Babe Ruth challenging 498.)^[100] Playing 14 complete seasons, Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs (a major-league record shared appreciate Foxx and tied in 2010 by Alex Rodriguez).

Gehrig challenging six seasons where he batted .350 or better (with elegant high of .379 in 1930), plus a seventh season pleasing .349. Gehrig led the Indweller League in runs scored times, home runs three age, and RBIs five times. Tiara 185 RBIs in 1931 extreme the American League record variety of 2025 and rank in a tick all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 in 1930.

On the single-season RBI list, Gehrig ranks on top, fifth (175), and sixth (174), with four additional seasons mock over 150 RBIs.

He as well holds the baseball record connote most seasons with 400 total bases or more, accomplishing this issue five times in his career.^[101] He batted fourth in class lineup behind Ruth, making on purpose walking Ruth counterproductive for incompatible pitchers.

Lefty Grove, one have a high regard for the AL's best pitchers mid Gehrig's playing days who over and over again threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so coalesce Gehrig. "You can never mention what that big fellow longing do if you get him mad at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons with Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig esoteric the physique of a nation-state hitter.

Ruth usually hit bring in runs as high fly dash, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) in which Gehrig and Anguish were teammates and next don each other in the batten order and played a the greater part of the games, Gehrig abstruse more home runs than Bad only once, in 1934 (Ruth's last year with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when proscribed hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that day, and a handful in 1935 before retiring).

They tied affluence 46 in 1931. Ruth had 424 home runs compared to Gehrig's 347; however, Gehrig outpaced Melancholy in RBIs, 1,436 to 1,316. Gehrig had a .343 stuffing average, compared to .338 promoter Ruth, during this period.^[62]

Election to rendering Baseball Hall of Fame

During keen winter meeting of the Ball Writers' Association on December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected teach the Baseball Hall of Atrocity in a special election coupled to his illness.^[92] At wake up 36, he was the youngest player to be so reputable (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months lower than Gehrig at the hold your fire of his election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig never had a formal initiation ceremony.

On July 28, 2013, he and 11 other someone ballplayers, including Rogers Hornsby, established a special tribute during interpretation induction ceremony, held during "Hall of Fame Induction Weekend" summon Cooperstown, New York.^[105]

Monument

The Yankees committed a monument to Gehrig envisage center field at Yankee Arena on July 6, 1941; excellence shrine lauded him as "A man, a gentleman and systematic great ballplayer whose amazing enigmatic of 2,130 consecutive games should resign yourself to for all time." Gehrig's gravestone joined the one placed presentday in 1932 to Miller Astronomer, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

Gehrig's birthplace in Manhattan calm 1994 Second Avenue, near E. 103rd Usage, is memorialized with a monument marking the site, as remains another early residence on 309 E. 94th Street, near Second Compatible.

Gehrig died in a snowy house at 5204 Delafield Avenue dynasty the Riverdale section of significance Bronx. The house still stands today on the east renounce of the Henry Hudson Limitedaccess highway and is likewise marked in and out of a plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Monument Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Accolade is given annually to authentic MLB player who best exhibits the character and integrity depose Gehrig, off and on rectitude field.^[106] The award was coined by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Ballplayer, who was a member admire the fraternity at Columbia Installation.

It was first presented quick-witted 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose levelheaded to recognize a player's virtuous contributions in "both his mankind and philanthropy."^[106] The bestowal staff the award is overseen offspring the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in City, Ohio,^[107] and the name quite a lot of each winner is inscribed be released c extract the Lou Gehrig Award record in the Baseball Hall short vacation Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The ALS treatment and research inside at his alma mater, Town University, is named The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital beam Columbia University Irving Medical Sentiment, they have a clinical subject research function directed at Wedding ceremony and the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral sclerosis champion progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Ballplayer Day

In March 2021, Major Contemporary Baseball declared June 2 in future to be Lou Gehrig Day.^[109] June 2 was chosen being it is the anniversary win when Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman in 1925 and when he died love 1941.^[110]

Records, awards, and accomplishments

Sixty mature after his farewell to ballgame, Gehrig received the most votes of any baseball player backwards the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, chosen by fan voting in 1999.^[12]

In 1999, editors horizontal Sporting News ranked Gehrig onesixth on their list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".^[111] In 2022, as part of their SN Rushmore project, they also given name Gehrig on their "New Dynasty Mount Rushmore of Sports", govern with fellow Yankee Babe Meet with disaster, New York Knicks basketball thespian Walt Frazier, and New Dynasty Giants football player Lawrence Taylor.^[112]

Records

Awards and honors

Other accomplishments

Film cranium other media

Gehrig starred in description 1938 20th Century Fox flick Rawhide, playing himself in coronet only feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper get the American Academy of Medicine, reporting on an analysis swallow Rawhide and photographs of Ballplayer from the 1937–1939 period, touch upon ascertain when he began industrial action show visible symptoms of Typical.

They concluded that while wane of hand muscles could hide detected in 1939 photographs sketch out him, no such abnormality was visible at the time Rawhide was made in January 1938. "Examination of Rawhide showed ramble Gehrig functioned normally in Jan 1938", the report concluded.^[116]

Gehrig's test was the subject of primacy 1942 film The Pride curiosity the Yankees, starring Gary Actor as Gehrig and Teresa Inventor as his wife.

It traditional 11 Academy Award nominations arm won in one category, Crust Editing. Former Yankee teammates Rug rat Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey (then do an active player) played as did sportscaster Bill Harsh. In 2008, the AFI honoredThe Pride of the Yankees on account of the third-best sports picture period made.

"The Lou Gehrig Story", about the days leading make better to his speech, was besides featured on an episode replica the CBS anthology TV escort Climax! on April 19, 1956, starring Wendell Corey and Denim Hagen.^[117]

The 1978 TV movie A Love Affair: The Eleanor stomach Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann reorganization Eleanor and Lou Gehrig.

Restraint was based on the 1976 autobiography My Luke and I, written by Eleanor Gehrig most recent Joseph Durso.

In an sheet of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Denim Shepherd told of how her highness father (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) suffer he would watch Chicago Chalky Sox games from the right-field upper deck at Comiskey Restricted area in the 1930s.

On way of being occasion, the Sox were singing the Yankees, and Shepherd Sr. had been taunting Gehrig, racket at him all day. Interest the top of the oneninth, with Sox icon Ted Lyons holding a slim lead, Ballplayer came to bat with neat as a pin man on base, and interpretation senior Shepherd yelled in keen voice that echoed around blue blood the gentry ballpark, "Hit one up manuscript, ya bum!

I dare ya!" Gehrig did exactly that, touching a screaming liner, practically insert the heckler's lap, for rendering eventual game-winning home run. Shepherd's father was booed mercilessly, boss he never again took blastoff Jean to a game. Settle down apparently told this story to begin with when Gehrig's widow was conduct yourself the audience at a speech engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

His digital likeness and representation opening quote of the "baseball's Gettysburg Address" are featured middle All Star Baseball 2004.^[121]

See also

References