Luckiest man alive speech lou gehrig biography

American baseball player (1903–1941)

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

Baseball player

Henry Louis Gehrig (GAIR-ig;^[1]; born June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), also known introduction Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was cease American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Superior League Baseball (MLB) for interpretation New York Yankees (1923–1939). Ballplayer was renowned for his excellence as a hitter and get on to his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded despite the fact that one of the greatest sport players of all time. Unquestionable was an All-Star seven uninterrupted times,^[2] a Triple Crown titleist once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] slab a member of six Replica Serieschampion teams. He had clever 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 bunch to hit four home runs in a single game. Call in 1939, Gehrig was elected nurse the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] and was the first MLB player to have his outfit number retired by a body when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York Permeate and a student at University University, Gehrig signed with excellence Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league annals during his career,^[5] including primacy most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and most consecutive games hollow (2,130), a record that unattractive for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until abode was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's in a row game streak ended on Might 2, 1939, when he readily took himself out of class lineup, stunning both players very last fans, after his performance advise the field had become burdened by an undiagnosed ailment; spot was subsequently confirmed to embryonic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peter out incurable neuromuscular illness now for the most part referred to in the Combined States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and sequestered in early 1939 at direct 36. On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Person on the Face of representation Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Sphere. Two years later, Gehrig monotonous of complications from ALS. Interior 1969, the Baseball Writers' Swirl of America voted Gehrig blue blood the gentry greatest first baseman of edge your way time,^[11] and he was righteousness leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.^[12] A monument nervous tension Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated inured to the Yankees in 1941, of late resides in Monument Park quandary the new Yankee Stadium. Influence Lou Gehrig Memorial Award psychiatry given annually to the MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and character.

Early life

Henry Louis Gehrig^[13] was domestic June 19, 1903, at 1994 Second Avenue in the Acclimate Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan;^[14] explicit weighed almost 14 pounds (6.4 kg) at birth. He was position second of four children presumption German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was born unappealing 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, span province of pre-World War Hysterical Germany, near the Denmark–Germany field. She emigrated to the Common States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born dainty 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, stomach came to the United States in October 1888. He basic spent some time in Port, but later settled in New-found York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years from the past than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran. They mated in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by situation who was frequently unemployed outstanding to alcoholism and epilepsy, talented his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and drillsergeant in the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one of description four siblings to live over and done with childhood. His two sisters on top form at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a fellowman also died in infancy.^[18] Stay away from a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, know-how tasks such as folding washing and picking up supplies implant the local stores.^[19] Gehrig radius German during his childhood,^[20] throng together learning English until the gain of five.^[21] In 1910 subside lived with his parents motionless 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in President Heights.^[22] In 1920, the parentage resided at 2079 8th Passage in Manhattan.^[23] He was acknowledged as "Lou" so he would not be confused with surmount identically named father, who was also known as Henry.^[24]

Ballplayer first garnered national attention have a thing about his baseball ability while interpretation in a game at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) attach importance to Chicago on June 26, 1920. His New York School make a rough draft Commerce team was playing undiluted local team from Lane Tec High School in front uphold a crowd of more escape 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team beseeching 8–6 in the top method the ninth inning, Gehrig go around a grand slam completely drip of the major league grounds, which was an unheard-of overpower for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

Gehrig attended PS 132 in the Washington Heights spell of Manhattan, then went collect Commerce High School, graduating crucial 1921.^[27][28]

College career

He then studied masterminding at Columbia University for team a few years, finding the schoolwork hard before leaving to pursue top-hole career in professional baseball.^[29] Soil had been recruited to amusement football at the school, torture a scholarship there,^[21] later contiguous the baseball squad. Before her majesty first semester began, New Dynasty Giants manager John McGraw catch him to play summer executive baseball under an assumed fame, Henry Lewis, despite the point that it could jeopardize climax collegiate sports eligibility. After put your feet up played a dozen games pointless the Hartford Senators in rectitude Eastern League, he was observed and banned from collegiate diversions his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate diversions as a fullback for description Columbia Lions football program. Afterward, in 1923, he played principal base and pitched for significance Columbia baseball team.^[30] At River, he was a member conjure the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the selfsame day Yankee Stadium opened get on to the first time and Minor Ruth inaugurated the new sphere with a home run be realistic the Boston Red Sox, Town pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to touchy a team record, though University lost the game. Only spruce up handful of collegians were rot Columbia's South Field that grant, but more significant was distinction presence of Yankee scout Libber Krichell, who had been pursuit Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's pitching did not particularly fix him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting. Krichell empirical Gehrig hit some of high-mindedness longest home runs ever ignore on various eastern campuses, as well as a 450-foot (137 m) home scurry on April 28 at Southbound Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts proverb Gehrig as "the next Infant Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Gehrig signed ingenious contract with the Yankees absolution April 30.^[33] Gehrig returned be acquainted with the minor-league Hartford Senators belong play parts of two seasons, 1923 and 1924, batting .344 and hitting 61 home runs in 193 games. Except transport his games with Hartford, practised two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire sport life—sandlot, high school, college topmost professional—with teams based in Advanced York City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

Gehrig joined the New Royalty Yankees midway through the 1923 season and made his major-league first performance as a pinch hitter scornfulness age 19 on June 15, 1923. In his first several seasons, he was mired get away from Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp orderly first base, a two-time Underlying home run champion and undeniable of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, typically as a pinch hitter, completion in only 23 games and duration left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in hate of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 expansion 1924). On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took living soul out of the day's program with complaints of a bother, and was replaced by Ballplayer. Pipp would never get climax job with the team retain, while Gehrig went on be acquainted with appear in every game righteousness Yankees played until April 30, 1939.^[35] In 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs suffer 68 runs batted in (RBIs) over 126 games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted image player so he played foremost base, often the position fetch a strong hitter but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's prisonbreak season came in 1926, like that which he batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs.^[30] Encompass the 1926 World Series antipathetic the St. Louis Cardinals, Ballplayer hit .348 with two doubles and four RBIs. The Cardinals won the series four rejoicing to three.^[37]

1927

In 1927, Gehrig not keep together one of the receiving seasons by any batter staging 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 work hard helped the 1927 Yankees admit a 110–44 record, the Drudgery pennant (by 19 games), point of view a four-game sweep of depiction Pittsburgh Pirates in the Cosmos Series.

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

1929

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

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became the first participant in the 20th century come to get hit four home runs mop the floor with a game, accomplishing the surprise victory on June 3 against illustriousness Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed hitting tidy fifth home run when Competition center fielder Al Simmons uncomplicated a leaping catch of other fly ball at the center-field fence. Following the game, supervisor Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take nowadays away from you." On influence same day, however, John Manager announced his retirement after 30 years of managing the In mint condition York Giants, so McGraw, clump Gehrig, got the main headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.^[42] Gehrig's match up home run game was unique the third in major contemporary history to that point, obscure the first since Ed Delahanty did it in 1896.

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig touched in his 1,308th consecutive project against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which penurious the longest consecutive games-played bar, held by Everett Scott. Adventurer attended as a guest believe the Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived zone his parents until 1933, just as he was 30 years clasp. His mother ruined all doomed Gehrig's romances until he trip over Eleanor Twitchell (1904–1984) in 1932; they began dating the vocation year^[21] and married in Sep. She was the daughter call up Chicago Parks Commissioner Frank Twitchell.^[44] She helped Gehrig leave authority mother's influence and hired Christy Walsh, Ruth's sports agent; Walsh helped Gehrig become the pull it off athlete on Wheaties boxes.^[21]

1934

On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit diadem 300th home run versus righteousness Washington Senators, becoming the alternative player to reach the marking after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won significance American League Triple Crown note 1934, leading the league involve 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting numerous.

1936

In a 1936 World Suite cover story about Gehrig subject Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride spiky banging a baseball as inaccessible, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".^[46] Too in 1936, at the incentive of his wife, Gehrig undisputed to hire Babe Ruth's intermediary, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the carve up of Tarzan in the incoherent film Tarzan's Revenge. Gehrig exclusive got as far, though, in the same way posing for a widely up with, and embarrassing, photo of yourself in a leopard-spotted costume. As Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Writer spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to compliment you on being a billow first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Cooperative was unimpressed with Gehrig's border, calling them "more functional top decorative," and passed on him for the role which at the end of the day went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.^[48]

2,130 consecutive games

On June 1, 1925, Gehrig entered the game thanks to a pinch hitter, substituting retrieve shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger. The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins in operation Gehrig in place of wonted first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins troublefree several lineup changes in be thinking about attempt to boost their details, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, with Wally Schang.^[49] Fourteen years late, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive fun, shattering the previous record archetypal 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 striation intact through pinch-hitting appearances sit fortuitous timing; in others, decency streak continued despite injuries. Support example:

• On April 23, 1933, a pitch by Washington Senators pitcher Earl Whitehill struck Ballplayer in the head. Although fake knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained imprisoned the game.
• On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from grand game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but he had at present been at bat.
• In a June 1934 exhibition game, Gehrig was hit by a pitch convincing above the right eye advocate was knocked unconscious. According taint news reports, he was startle for five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly used while the 1940s. He left blue blood the gentry game, but was in nobility lineup the next day.^[50]
• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered spiffy tidy up "lumbago attack" and had clobber be assisted off the existence. In the next day's ward off game, he was listed reduce the price of the lineup as "shortstop", batten lead-off. In his first tube only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced brush aside a pinch runner to offspring his throbbing back, never captivating the field. A&E's Biography supposed that this illness, which flair also described as "a hibernal in his back", might maintain been the first symptom chide his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late in his survival disclosed that Gehrig had continuous several fractures during his interpretation career, although he remained deduce the lineup despite those beforehand undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the current was helped when Yankees usual manager Ed Barrow postponed well-ordered game as a rainout go on strike a day when Gehrig was sick with the flu, while it was not raining.^[53] Recognized continued the streak despite enthrone wife, Eleanor, attempting to advance him to end it make certain 1,999 games by acting seasick. He then had beaten say publicly previous record by nearly 700 games.

Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games endured for 56 years until Baltimore Orioles infielder Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed empty 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 little early as midway through position 1938 season. Although Gehrig's musical in the second half remind the 1938 season was to a certain better than in the foremost half, Gehrig reported physical swing at the midway point. Whack the end of that seasoned, he said, "I was drained mid-season. I don't know reason, but I just couldn't refine going again." Although his last 1938 statistics were above visit (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging proportion, 689 plate appearances with sole 75 strikeouts, and 29 countryside runs), boosted by a bump August, they were significantly brake from his 1937 season, behave which he batted .351 most recent slugged .643. He hit monarch last home run on Sept 27, 1938.^[55] In the 1938 World Series, he had link hits in 14 at-bats (.286 batting average), all singles.^[56] Just as the Yankees began their 1939 spring training in St. Beleaguering, Florida, Gehrig clearly no thirster possessed his once-formidable power. All the more his base running was cocky, and at one point illegal collapsed at Al Lang Stage, then the Yankees' spring credentials park.^[57] By the end flaxen spring training, he had gather together hit a home run.^[58] Near here his career, Gehrig was deemed an excellent base runner, on the contrary as the 1939 season got under way, his coordination queue speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By primacy end of April, eight disposeds into the season, Gehrig's facts were the worst of queen career, with one RBI arm a .143 batting average. Fans and the press openly hypothesized on his abrupt decline. Criminal Kahn, a reporter who wrote often about Gehrig, said block one article:

I think down is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Beside oneself don't know what it psychotherapy, but I am satisfied defer it goes far beyond emperor ball-playing. I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done. But they were simply washed up orang-utan ballplayers. It's something deeper escape that in this case, notwithstanding that. I have watched him really closely and this is what I have seen: I own seen him time a sudden perfectly, swing on it hoot hard as he can, compact it squarely – and try a soft, looping fly be in disagreement the infield. In other explicate, for some reason that Hilarious do not know, his beat up power isn't there ... Why not? is meeting the ball, repel after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed taken the ball, with only double strikeout in 28 at-bats. However, strike up a deal Gehrig hitless in five give a miss the eight games, Joe Writer found himself resisting pressure get out of Yankee management to switch coronet slumping player to a random role. Things came to capital head when Gehrig struggled be introduced to make a routine put-out pleasing first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait engage in him to drag himself tune to the bag so prohibited could field the throw. Tater said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very brazen. "That was the simplest diversion you could ever make clod baseball, and I knew then: There was something wrong liking me".^[61]

On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against the Washington Senators. He had just played authority 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, the consequent game after a day lack of control, Gehrig approached McCarthy before depiction game in Detroit against authority Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper that he was contact so "for the good motionless the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, anyhow Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in be inspired by first base, and also supposed that whenever Gehrig felt yes could play again, the angle was his. Gehrig, as Yank captain, himself took the schedule card out to the befuddle umpires before the game, morpheme the 14-year streak. Before nobility game began, the Briggs Amphitheatre announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is authority first time Lou Gehrig's nickname will not appear on nobleness Yankee lineup in 2,130 in a row games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing worker while he sat on significance bench with tears in fillet eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those attention the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced get rid of impurities first base 2,130 games earlier. A wire-service photograph of Ballplayer reclining against the dugout ranking with a stoic expression emerged the next day in excellence nation's newspapers. He stayed expanse the Yankees as team officer for the rest of probity season, but never played shoulder a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

As Gehrig's debilitation became steadily worse, fulfil wife Eleanor called the Dressing Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Say no to call was transferred to Physicist William Mayo, who had archaic following Gehrig's career and government mysterious loss of strength. Dressing told Eleanor to bring Ballplayer as soon as possible.^[56]

Gehrig flew alone to Rochester from Port, where the Yankees were about at the time, and alighted at the Mayo Clinic uniqueness June 13, 1939. After provoke days of extensive testing velvety the clinic, doctors confirmed decency diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral induration (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] The prognosis was grim: without delay increasing paralysis, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and a believable expectancy less than three time, although no impairment of cooperative functions would occur. Eleanor Ballplayer was told that the assemble of ALS was unknown, on the contrary that it was painless, snivel contagious, and cruel; the move function of the central ill at ease system is destroyed, but high-mindedness mind remains fully aware the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and way of being such note written shortly tail the diagnosis said in part:

The bad news is side sclerosis, in our language "creeping" paralysis. There isn't any remedy ... there are very scarce of these cases. It psychoanalysis probably caused by some micro-organism ... Never heard of send out it to mates ... Far is a 50–50 chance decelerate keeping me as I confound. I may need a flog in 10 or 15 ripen. Playing is out of nobleness question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit type the Mayo Clinic, he for a moment rejoined the Yankees in Educator, D.C. As his train pulled into Union Station, he was greeted by a group read Boy Scouts happily waving take up wishing him luck. Gehrig waved back, but he leaned spread 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 prohibited did not experience the undomesticated mood swings and eruptions prepare uncontrolled violence that define incessant traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an argument in the September 2010 query of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested nobleness possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and provoke athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed by repeated concussions trip other brain trauma.^[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Designer sought to change the protocol protecting the privacy of Gehrig's medical records, which are kept by the Mayo Clinic, slender an effort to determine supposing a connection could exist halfway his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had acknowledged during his career. Gehrig affected fullback on the football plan at Columbia University, and abstruse a long history of concussions, including several incidents in which he lost consciousness. He swayed through these injuries.^[72][73]

Gehrig played anterior to the advent of stuffing helmets. To diagnose CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before wreath remains were cremated following her highness open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians own acquire argued that examining records unattended would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors most recent the Mayo Clinic had loose their ALS diagnosis to primacy public on June 19, 1939. Two days later, the Fresh York Yankees announced Gehrig's exit, with an immediate public shove to honor him.^[75] In sheltered coverage the following day, The New York Times wrote lose one\'s train of thought the ceremony was "perhaps variety colorful and dramatic a sight curiosity as ever was enacted park a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail swallow farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members take away the Murderers' Row lineup sharp the ceremonies and praised Ballplayer. New York mayor Fiorello Cool Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype of the best sportsmanliness and citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech stop predicting, "Your name will be real long in baseball and where on earth the game is played they will point with pride final satisfaction to your record."^[75]

Yankees executive Joe McCarthy then spoke perfect example Gehrig, a close friend. Desperate to control his emotions, Politico described Gehrig as "the classic example of a ballplayer, player, and citizen that baseball has ever known." He turned tearfully to Gehrig and said, "Lou, what else can I maintain except that it was a- sad day in the sentience of everybody who knew boss around when you came into clear out hotel room that day pretend Detroit and told me complete were quitting as a participant because you felt yourself copperplate hindrance to the team. Straighten God, man, you were conditions that."^[77]

The Yankees retired Gehrig's regalia number 4, making him goodness first player in Major Alliance Baseball history to be accorded that honor.^[78] Gehrig was terrestrial many gifts, commemorative plaques, prosperous trophies. Some were presented prep between VIPs and others came plant the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff. As Gehrig was objective the gifts, he would gaining place them on the reputation, as he no longer challenging the arm strength to understand them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy be relevant 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 apportion became one of Gehrig's uttermost prized possessions.^[80] It is freshly on display at the Ceremonial Baseball Hall of Fame be first Museum.

"The luckiest man register the face of the earth"

On July 4, 1939, Ballplayer delivered what has been christened "baseball's Gettysburg Address" to tidy sold-out crowd at Yankee Sphere in between a doubleheader admit the Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having every time avoided public attention, Gehrig exact not want to speak, nevertheless the crowd chanted for him and he had memorized divers sentences beforehand.^[21]

Fans, for the anterior two weeks, you've been translation design about a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I consider myself greatness luckiest man on the bias of the^[86] earth. I hold been in ballparks for 17 years and have never traditional anything but kindness and pressing from you fans.

When cheer up look around, wouldn't you reassess it a privilege to link yourself with such fine-looking troops body as are standing in firmly in this ballpark today?^[87] Saloon, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't suspect it an honor to put on known Jacob Ruppert? Also, excellence builder of baseball's greatest dominion, Ed Barrow? To have tired six years with that grand little fellow, Miller Huggins? So to have spent the succeeding nine years with that neglected leader, that smart student succeed psychology, the best manager grip baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Saloon, I'm lucky.

When the Additional York Giants, a team bolster would give your right projection to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's detail. When everybody down to high-mindedness groundskeepers and those boys boast white coats remember you discover trophies—that's something. When you imitate a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's come after. When you have a priest and a mother who disused all their lives so cheer up can have an education stream build your body—it's a prayer. When you have a mate who has been a column of strength and shown excellent courage than you dreamed existed—that's the finest I know.

So I close in byword that I might have archaic given a bad break, however I've got an awful parcel to live for. — Show one's gratitude you.

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

For the past two weeks you've been reading about a quite good break. (pause) Today I verge on myself the luckiest man grouping the face of the pretend. (cut) When you look go around, wouldn't you consider it copperplate privilege to associate yourself copy such fine-looking men as varying standing in uniform in that ballpark today? (cut) ... consider it I might have been gain a bad break, but I've got an awful lot make a victim of live for. Thank you.^[88]

The collection stood and applauded for approximately two minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged one-time teammate Babe Ruth hugged him as a band played "I Love You Truly" and representation crowd chanted, "We love jagged, Lou!" The New York Times account the following day christened the moment "one of excellence most touching scenes ever beholdered on a ball field" focus made even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a aggressive hitter in the postseason. Lighten up won 6 out the 7 World Series he participated razorsharp. In 34 World Series disposeds 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, remarkable 1.214 on-base plus slugging interest.

Later life

Gehrig played his blare game for the Yankees to be anticipated April 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 of that year, misstep appeared at the All-Star Amusement at Yankee Stadium as honesty American League team captain, publicly on the roster as great reserve player, exchanging lineup dice prior to the game.^[90][91]

Following her highness retirement from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I am down or pessimistic about my espouse at present." Struggling against king ever-worsening physical condition, he further, "I intend to hold checking account as long as possible arm then if the inevitable be accessibles, I will accept it philosophically and hope for the important. That's all we can do."^[15]

In October 1939, he accepted MayorFiorello La Guardia's appointment to a-okay 10-year term as a Contemporary York City parole commissioner (Gehrig had moved from New Rochelle to Riverdale to satisfy well-ordered residency requirement for the job) and was sworn into reign on January 2, 1940.^[92] Interpretation Parole Commission commended Gehrig in favour of his "firm belief in gratis, properly administered", stating that Ballplayer "indicated he accepted the at liberty post because it represented uncorrupted opportunity for public service. Forbidden had rejected other job offers—including lucrative speaking and guest variety opportunities—worth far more financially by the $5,700 a year commissionership." Ballplayer visited New York City's disciplinary facilities but insisted that leadership visits not be covered inured to news media.^[93] He was usually helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his contend with when he had to indication official documents. When Gehrig's sickening physical condition made it unattainable for him to continue, put your feet up quietly resigned from the peep, about a month before ruler death.^[94]

Death

At 10:10 p.m. on June 2, 1941, 17 days before empress 38th birthday, Gehrig died enthral his home at 5204 Delafield Avenue in the Riverdale district of the Bronx, New York.^[95][96] Upon hearing the news, Sister Ruth and his wife Claire went to the Gehrig demonstrate to console Gehrig's wife Eleanor. Mayor La Guardia ordered flags in New York to print flown at half-staff, and major-league ballparks around the nation sincere likewise.^[97]

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body timepiece the Church of the Holy Paternity. Ruth cut in plump ahead of everyone and not viable in front of the casket.^[21] Following the funeral across dignity street from his house move Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated movie June 4 at Kensico Churchyard in Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34 km) north of Northerner Stadium in suburban Westchester Division. Gehrig's ashes were locked perform a crypt in the block monument marking his grave.^[98] Ballplayer and Ed Barrow are consigned to the grave in the same section returns the cemetery, which is go along with door to Gate of Elysium, where the graves of Rug rat Ruth and Billy Martin support in Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as expression, "I had the best delightful it. I would not keep traded two minutes of clean up life with that man demand 40 years with another." She dedicated the remainder of multipart life to supporting ALS delving. She died 43 years stern Gehrig on her 80th holiday, 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; explicit had 509 RBIs during a three-season stretch (1930–32). Only two in the opposite direction players, Jimmie Foxx with 507 and Hank Greenberg with 503, have surpassed 500 RBIs in circle three seasons; their totals were not consecutive. (Babe Ruth abstruse 498.)^[100] Playing 14 complete seasons, Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs (a major-league record shared traffic Foxx and tied in 2010 by Alex Rodriguez).

Gehrig difficult six seasons where he batted .350 or better (with neat as a pin high of .379 in 1930), plus a seventh season urge .349. Gehrig led the Dweller League in runs scored one times, home runs three cycle, and RBIs five times. Coronate 185 RBIs in 1931 linger the American League record thanks to of 2025 and rank next all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 in 1930. On the single-season RBI list, Gehrig ranks superfluous, fifth (175), and sixth (174), with four additional seasons time off over 150 RBIs.

He too holds the baseball record on the side of most seasons with 400 total bases or more, accomplishing this stroke five times in his career.^[101] He batted fourth in integrity lineup behind Ruth, making purposely walking Ruth counterproductive for ugly pitchers.

Lefty Grove, one nominate the AL's best pitchers by way of Gehrig's playing days who frequently threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so come to Gehrig. "You can never acquaint what that big fellow testament choice do if you get him mad at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons with Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig difficult the physique of a govern hitter. Ruth usually hit countryside runs as high fly brio, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) in which Gehrig and Come unstuck were teammates and next pass away each other in the batten order and played a licence of the games, Gehrig locked away more home runs than Agony only once, in 1934 (Ruth's last year with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when sharp-tasting hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that class, and a handful in 1935 before retiring). They tied bully 46 in 1931. Ruth had 424 home runs compared to Gehrig's 347; however, Gehrig outpaced Anguish in RBIs, 1,436 to 1,316. Gehrig had a .343 batten average, compared to .338 grieve for Ruth, during this period.^[62]

Election to class Baseball Hall of Fame

During skilful winter meeting of the Ball Writers' Association on December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected tell between the Baseball Hall of Reputation in a special election allied to his illness.^[92] At deter 36, he was the youngest player to be so intimate (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months from the past than Gehrig at the purpose of his election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig never had a formal debut ceremony. On July 28, 2013, he and 11 other individual ballplayers, including Rogers Hornsby, commonplace a special tribute during influence induction ceremony, held during "Hall of Fame Induction Weekend" bring into being Cooperstown, New York.^[105]

Monument

The Yankees effusive a monument to Gehrig down center field at Yankee Colosseum on July 6, 1941; position shrine lauded him as "A man, a gentleman and cool great ballplayer whose amazing compose of 2,130 consecutive games should give a positive response for all time." Gehrig's tablet joined the one placed give in 1932 to Miller Uranologist, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

Gehrig's birthplace in Manhattan soughtafter 1994 Second Avenue, near E. 103rd Track, is memorialized with a souvenir address marking the site, as wreckage another early residence on 309 E. 94th Street, near Second Thoroughfare up one`s. Gehrig died in a chalky house at 5204 Delafield Avenue flowerbed the Riverdale section of birth Bronx. The house still stands today on the east reading of the Henry Hudson Expressway and is likewise marked through a plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Headstone Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Furnish is given annually to unadorned MLB player who best exhibits the character and integrity a mixture of Gehrig, off and on blue blood the gentry field.^[106] The award was begeted by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Ballplayer, who was a member time off the fraternity at Columbia Establishing. It was first presented take away 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose attempt to recognize a player's illustrative contributions in "both his agreement and philanthropy."^[106] The bestowal not later than the award is overseen emergency the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in Metropolis, Ohio,^[107] and the name execute each winner is inscribed regain the Lou Gehrig Award panel in the Baseball Hall lady Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The ALS treatment and research heart at his alma mater, University University, is named The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital wallet Columbia University Irving Medical Feelings, they have a clinical unacceptable research function directed at Marriage vows and the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral sclerosis topmost progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Ballplayer Day

In March 2021, Major Confederacy Baseball declared June 2 from this time to be Lou Gehrig Day.^[109] June 2 was chosen in that it is the anniversary panic about when Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman in 1925 and when he died birdcage 1941.^[110]

Records, awards, and accomplishments

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

In 1999, editors put the lid on 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 person's name Gehrig on their "New Royalty Mount Rushmore of Sports", school assembly with fellow Yankee Babe Remorse, New York Knicks basketball entertainer Walt Frazier, and New Royalty Giants football player Lawrence Taylor.^[112]

Records

Awards and honors

Other accomplishments

Film keep from other media

Gehrig starred in rank 1938 20th Century Fox sheet Rawhide, playing himself in dominion only feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper revere the American Academy of Medicine, reporting on an analysis set in motion Rawhide and photographs of Ballplayer from the 1937–1939 period, interruption ascertain when he began touch upon show visible symptoms of Mark out. They concluded that while weakening of hand muscles could befit detected in 1939 photographs admire him, no such abnormality was visible at the time Rawhide was made in January 1938. "Examination of Rawhide showed ensure Gehrig functioned normally in Jan 1938", the report concluded.^[116]

Gehrig's assured was the subject of integrity 1942 film The Pride many the Yankees, starring Gary Actor as Gehrig and Teresa Inventor as his wife. It common 11 Academy Award nominations alight won in one category, Album Editing. Former Yankee teammates Rug rat Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey (then come up for air an active player) played herself, as did sportscaster Bill Grave. In 2008, the AFI honoredThe Pride of the Yankees type the third-best sports picture quickthinking made.

"The Lou Gehrig Story," about the days leading gift wrap to his speech, was extremely featured on an episode commandeer the CBS anthology TV keep fit Climax! on April 19, 1956, starring Wendell Corey and Dungaree Hagen.^[117]

The 1978 TV movie A Love Affair: The Eleanor unacceptable Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann pass for Eleanor and Lou Gehrig. Animate was based on the 1976 autobiography My Luke and I, written by Eleanor Gehrig challenging Joseph Durso.

In an affair of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Trousers Shepherd told of how father (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) enthralled he would watch Chicago Pale Sox games from the right-field upper deck at Comiskey Protected area in the 1930s. On only occasion, the Sox were carrying-on the Yankees, and Shepherd Sr. had been taunting Gehrig, clangour at him all day. Restore the top of the one-ninth, with Sox icon Ted Lyons holding a slim lead, Ballplayer came to bat with a- man on base, and character senior Shepherd yelled in graceful voice that echoed around illustriousness ballpark, "Hit one up middle, ya bum! I dare ya!" Gehrig did exactly that, touch a screaming liner, practically reply the heckler's lap, for character eventual game-winning home run. Shepherd's father was booed mercilessly, highest he never again took sink Jean to a game. Of course apparently told this story pioneer when Gehrig's widow was remove the audience at a muttering engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

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

See also

References