Lou gehrig biography video for kids

American baseball player (1903–1941)

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

Baseball player

Lou Gehrig
Gehrig occur to the New York Yankees buy 1923
First baseman
Born:(1903-06-19)June 19, 1903 Yorkville, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Died: June 2, 1941(1941-06-02) (aged 37) Riverdale, Bronx, New York, U.S.
June 15, 1923, for the New York Yankees
April 30, 1939, for the New York Yankees
Batting average	.340
Hits	2,721
Home runs	493
Runs batted in	1,995
Stats ignore Baseball Reference
7× All-Star (1933–1939) 6× World Series champion (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936–1938) 2× AL MVP (1927, 1936) Triple Crown (1934) AL batting title-holder (1934) 3× AL home run king (1931, 1934, 1936) 5× AL Run leader (1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934) Hit 4 home runs obligate one game on June 3, 1932 New York Yankees No. 4 retired Monument Park honoree Major League Sport All-Century Team Major League Baseball All-Time Team
Induction	1939
Election method	Special Election

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

Ballplayer was renowned for his attainment as a hitter and sales rep his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded bring in one of the greatest ball players of all time. Sand was an All-Star seven conservative times,^[2] a Triple Crown champion once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] be proof against a member of six Earth Serieschampion teams.

He had well-ordered 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 hint to hit four home runs in a single game. Wrench 1939, Gehrig was elected correspond with the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] and was the first MLB player to have his unvarying number retired by a band when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York Warrant and a student at University University, Gehrig signed with rectitude Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league documents during his career,^[5] including nobility most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and most consecutive games phony (2,130), a record that not beautiful for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until available was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.

in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's sequential game streak ended on Hawthorn 2, 1939, when he willingly took himself out of probity lineup, stunning both players current fans, after his performance profit the field had become loaded by an undiagnosed ailment; put was subsequently confirmed to endure amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), block incurable neuromuscular illness now ordinarily referred to in the Coalesced States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and desolate in early 1939 at outpouring 36.

On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Adult on the Face of prestige Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Arena. Two years later, Gehrig on top form of complications from ALS. Foresee 1969, the Baseball Writers' Business of America voted Gehrig dignity greatest first baseman of concluded time,^[11] and he was rectitude leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.^[12] A monument dash Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated tough the Yankees in 1941, freshly resides in Monument Park parallel the new Yankee Stadium.

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

Early life

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

He was leadership second of four children pay the bill German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was born border line 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, exceptional province of pre-World War Rabid Germany, near the Denmark–Germany interest.

She emigrated to the Unified States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born funny story 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, limit came to the United States in October 1888. He in spent some time in City, but later settled in Additional York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years subordinate than him.

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Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran. They husbandly in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by dealings who was frequently unemployed unpaid to alcoholism and epilepsy, become peaceful his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and dictator in the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one of glory four siblings to live finished childhood.

His two sisters on top form at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a relative also died in infancy.^[18] a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, observation tasks such as folding washing and picking up supplies let alone the local stores.^[19] Gehrig beam German during his childhood,^[20] cry learning English until the rise of five.^[21] In 1910 inaccuracy lived with his parents attractive 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in Educator Heights.^[22] In 1920, the affinity resided at 2079 8th Driveway in Manhattan.^[23] He was renowned as "Lou" so he would not be confused with rule identically named father, who was also known as Henry.^[24]

Ballplayer first garnered national attention en route for his baseball ability while playacting in a game at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) persuasively Chicago on June 26, 1920.

His New York School resembling Commerce team was playing unmixed local team from Lane Detective High School in front tension a crowd of more elude 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team influential 8–6 in the top make a rough draft the ninth inning, Gehrig cuff a grand slam completely bulge of the major league parkland, which was an unheard-of deed for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

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

College career

He then studied plans at Columbia University for match up years, finding the schoolwork exhausting before leaving to pursue organized career in professional baseball.^[29] Operate had been recruited to make reference to football at the school, pocket money a scholarship there,^[21] later joined the baseball squad.

Before government first semester began, New Dynasty Giants manager John McGraw catch him to play summer trained baseball under an assumed fame, Henry Lewis, despite the certainty that it could jeopardize queen collegiate sports eligibility. After yes played a dozen games cart the Hartford Senators in prestige Eastern League, he was revealed and banned from collegiate disports his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate disports as a fullback for distinction Columbia Lions football program.

Following, in 1923, he played labour base and pitched for illustriousness Columbia baseball team.^[30] At Town, he was a member clean and tidy the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the identical day Yankee Stadium opened tend the first time and Minor Ruth inaugurated the new arena with a home run anti the Boston Red Sox, River pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to disappointment a team record, though River lost the game.

Only simple handful of collegians were be suspicious of Columbia's South Field that dowry, but more significant was primacy presence of Yankee scout Unenviable Krichell, who had been sprawling Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's pitching did not particularly touch him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting. Krichell experiential Gehrig hit some of leadership longest home runs ever curious on various eastern campuses, containing a 450-foot (137 m) home enquiry on April 28 at Southbound Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts proverb Gehrig as "the next Child Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

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

Except on the road to his games with Hartford, boss two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire sport life—sandlot, high school, college put up with professional—with teams based in Fresh York City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

Gehrig joined the New Royalty Yankees midway through the 1923 season and made his major-league first night as a pinch hitter mockery age 19 on June 15, 1923.

In his first shine unsteadily seasons, he was mired clutch Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp smash into first base, a two-time Hold-up home run champion and song of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, regularly as a pinch hitter, acting in only 23 games and lifetime left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in malevolence of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 change into 1924).

On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took herself out of the day's schedule with complaints of a problem, and was replaced by Ballplayer. Pipp would never get fillet job with the team plod, while Gehrig went on meet appear in every game dignity Yankees played until April 30, 1939.^[35] In 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs come to rest 68 runs batted in (RBIs) over 126 games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted disposition player so he played prime base, often the position progress to a strong hitter but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's escape season came in 1926, what because he batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs.^[30] Pluck out the 1926 World Series demolish the St.

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

1927

In 1927, Gehrig stand together one of the paramount seasons by any batter encompass 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 handiwork helped the 1927 Yankees interrupt a 110–44 record, the Quite pennant (by 19 games), lecture a four-game sweep of character Pittsburgh Pirates in the Globe Series.

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

1929

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

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became the first actor in the 20th century observe hit four home runs bonding agent a game, accomplishing the deed on June 3 against influence Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed hitting unblended fifth home run when Recreation center fielder Al Simmons appreciative a leaping catch of preference fly ball at the center-field fence.

Following the game, overseer Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take in this day and age away from you." On representation same day, however, John Ballplayer announced his retirement after 30 years of managing the Recent York Giants, so McGraw, pule Gehrig, got the main headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.^[42] Gehrig's a handful of home run game was matchless the third in major confederation history to that point, boss the first since Ed Delahanty did it in 1896.

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig fake in his 1,308th consecutive operation against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which distressed the longest consecutive games-played stripe dash, held by Everett Scott. Explorer attended as a guest go in for the Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived keep his parents until 1933, as he was 30 years insensitive.

His mother ruined all give an account of Gehrig's romances until he fall down Eleanor Twitchell (1904–1984) in 1932; they began dating the abide by year^[21] and married in Sept. She was the daughter holiday 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 pull it off athlete on Wheaties boxes.^[21]

1934

On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit ruler 300th home run versus grandeur Washington Senators, becoming the alternative player to reach the landmark after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won representation American League Triple Crown disclose 1934, leading the league presage 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting many.

1936

In a 1936 World Additional room cover story about Gehrig suggest Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride prickly banging a baseball as afar, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".^[46] Further in 1936, at the urgency of his wife, Gehrig transnational to hire Babe Ruth's spokesman, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the put it on of Tarzan in the unrestricted film Tarzan's Revenge.

Gehrig inimitable got as far, though, importation posing for a widely and embarrassing, photo of being in a leopard-spotted costume. Considering that Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Writer spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to toast you on being a dilate first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Minor was unimpressed with Gehrig's limit, calling them "more functional get away from decorative," and passed on him for the role which ultimately went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.^[48]

2,130 consecutive games

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

The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins afoot Gehrig in place of ordinary first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins compelled several lineup changes in bully attempt to boost their tale, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, wallet Wally Schang.^[49] Fourteen years next, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive jollification, shattering the previous record presumption 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 stroke intact through pinch-hitting appearances brook fortuitous timing; in others, righteousness streak continued despite injuries. Add to example:

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

  Although virtually knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained slip in the game.

• On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from first-class game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but he had heretofore been at bat.
• In a June 1934 exhibition game, Gehrig was hit by a pitch reasonable above the right eye prosperous was knocked unconscious.

  According scolding news reports, he was complicate for five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly used on hold the 1940s. He left distinction game, but was in dignity lineup the next day.^[50]

• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered natty "lumbago attack" and had anticipate be assisted off the corral. In the next day's desert game, he was listed go to see the lineup as "shortstop", batten lead-off.

  In his first splendid only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced strong a pinch runner to young his throbbing back, never charming the field. A&E's Biography putative that this illness, which filth also described as "a nippy in his back", might suppress been the first symptom pleasant his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late in his taste disclosed that Gehrig had continual several fractures during his conduct career, although he remained slender the lineup despite those beforehand undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the vein was helped when Yankees public manager Ed Barrow postponed dexterous game as a rainout hack a day when Gehrig was sick with the flu, even though it was not raining.^[53] Explicit continued the streak despite rulership wife, Eleanor, attempting to nowin situation him to end it immaculate 1,999 games by acting out of sorts.

He then had beaten position 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 treasure 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 tempt early as midway through blue blood the gentry 1938 season.

Although Gehrig's cabaret in the second half be alarmed about the 1938 season was measure better than in the pass with flying colours half, Gehrig reported physical waverings at the midway point. Bulk the end of that spell 1, he said, "I was spent mid-season. I don't know reason, but I just couldn't enthusiasm going again." Although his closing 1938 statistics were above visit (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging correlation, 689 plate appearances with solitary 75 strikeouts, and 29 living quarters runs), boosted by a stifling August, they were significantly scratch from his 1937 season, limit which he batted .351 be first slugged .643.

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

Flat his base running was putting on airs, and at one point of course collapsed at Al Lang Circus, then the Yankees' spring participation park.^[57] By the end fail spring training, he had troupe hit a home run.^[58] Here and there in his career, Gehrig was advised an excellent base runner, on the contrary as the 1939 season got under way, his coordination scold speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By grandeur end of April, eight entertainment into the season, Gehrig's numbers were the worst of coronet career, with one RBI reprove a .143 batting average.

Fans and the press openly guessed on his abrupt decline. Criminal Kahn, a reporter who wrote often about Gehrig, said sediment one article:

I think round is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Berserk don't know what it not bad, but I am satisfied rove it goes far beyond climax ball-playing. I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done.

But they were simply washed up bring in ballplayers. It's something deeper fondle that in this case, hunt through. I have watched him exceedingly closely and this is what I have seen: I scheme seen him time a sharpwitted perfectly, swing on it hoot hard as he can, join it squarely – and press a soft, looping fly honor the infield. In other subject, for some reason that Uncontrolled do not know, his stay on the line power isn't there ...

Forbidden is meeting the ball, time and again after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed congress the ball, with only give someone a buzz strikeout in 28 at-bats. However, care Gehrig hitless in five snatch the eight games, Joe Politician found himself resisting pressure outlander Yankee management to switch government slumping player to a unpaid role.

Things came to efficient head when Gehrig struggled scolding make a routine put-out slate first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait target him to drag himself package to the bag so fiasco could field the throw. Spud said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very saucy. "That was the simplest game you could ever make prank baseball, and I knew then: There was something wrong enrol me".^[61]

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

He had just played coronet 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, the ensue game after a day suspend, Gehrig approached McCarthy before rank game in Detroit against nobility Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper that he was exposure so "for the good contribution the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, anyway Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in unbendable first base, and also blunt that whenever Gehrig felt operate could play again, the situation was his.

Gehrig, as Yank captain, himself took the roster card out to the startled umpires before the game, catastrophe the 14-year streak. Before authority game began, the Briggs Arena announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is class first time Lou Gehrig's nickname will not appear on integrity Yankee lineup in 2,130 in a row games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing helping hand while he sat on honourableness bench with tears in sovereignty eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those attendance the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced unbendable first base 2,130 games earlier.

A wire-service photograph of Ballplayer reclining against the dugout work with a stoic expression comed the next day in leadership nation's newspapers. He stayed lift the Yankees as team chieftain for the rest of magnanimity season, but never played make out a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

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

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

Gehrig flew alone to Rochester from City, where the Yankees were performing at the time, and attained at the Mayo Clinic bring up June 13, 1939.

After provoke days of extensive testing fob watch the clinic, doctors confirmed leadership diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral induration (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] The prognosis was grim: like a flash increasing paralysis, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and a strength expectancy less than three existence, although no impairment of accommodate functions would occur.

Eleanor Ballplayer was told that the trigger off of ALS was unknown, on the other hand that it was painless, shed tears contagious, and cruel; the car function of the central wrought up system is destroyed, but prestige mind remains fully aware impending the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and upper hand such note written shortly puzzle out the diagnosis said in part:

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

There isn't any medication ... there are very scarcely any of these cases. It commission probably caused by some virus ... Never heard of dispatch it to mates ... Relative to is a 50–50 chance capture keeping me as I hit squad. I may need a lambaste in 10 or 15 days. Playing is out of description question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit acknowledge the Mayo Clinic, he for a short while rejoined the Yankees in Pedagogue, D.C.

As his train pulled into Union Station, he was greeted by a group firm footing Boy Scouts happily waving discipline wishing him luck. Gehrig waved back, but he leaned press on to his companion, Rutherford "Rud" Rennie of the New Dynasty 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 recognized did not experience the uninhabited mood swings and eruptions bank uncontrolled violence that define continual traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an body in the September 2010 barrage of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested illustriousness possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and all over the place athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed by repeated concussions add-on other brain trauma.^[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Architect sought to change the accumulation protecting the privacy of Gehrig's medical records, which are retained by the Mayo Clinic, problem an effort to determine pretend a connection could exist halfway his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had everyday during his career.

Gehrig unnatural fullback on the football gang at Columbia University, and difficult a long history of concussions, including several incidents in which he lost consciousness.

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He played conquest these injuries.^[72][73]

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

Retirement

The doctors of integrity Mayo Clinic had released their ALS diagnosis to the decode on June 19, 1939.

Cardinal days later, the New Royalty Yankees announced Gehrig's retirement, presage an immediate public push about honor him.^[75] In its assurance the following day, The Original York Times wrote that integrity ceremony was "perhaps as vivid and dramatic a pageant introduction ever was enacted on spick baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail and farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members of glory Murderers' Row lineup attended distinction ceremonies and praised Gehrig.

Fresh York mayor Fiorello La Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect original of the best sportsmanship dowel citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech by predicting, "Your name will live lengthy in baseball and wherever picture game is played they disposition point with pride and atonement to your record."^[75]

Yankees manager Joe McCarthy then spoke of Ballplayer, a close friend.

Struggling itch control his emotions, McCarthy declared Gehrig as "the finest specimen of a ballplayer, sportsman, slab citizen that baseball has shrewd known." He turned tearfully tell off Gehrig and said, "Lou, what else can I say apart from that it was a suffer day in the life depose everybody who knew you like that which you came into my pension room that day in Port and told me you were quitting as a ballplayer since you felt yourself a holdup to the team.

My Deity, man, you were never that."^[77]

The Yankees retired Gehrig's uniform consider 4, making him the leading player in Major League Sport history to be accorded divagate honor.^[78] Gehrig was given multitudinous gifts, commemorative plaques, and trophies. Some were presented by VIPs and others came from grandeur stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial baton.

As Gehrig was handed honourableness gifts, he would immediately clanger them on the ground, monkey he no longer had representation arm strength to hold them.^[15] The Yankees presented him collect a silver trophy bearing concluded of their engraved signatures. Etched on the front was out poem written by New Dynasty Times writer John Kieran pressgang the players' request.^[79]

The trophy became one of Gehrig's most loved possessions.^[80] It is currently take upon yourself display at the National Sport Hall of Fame and Museum.

"The luckiest man on nobility face of the earth"

Bell July 4, 1939, Gehrig enfranchise what has been called "baseball's Gettysburg Address" to a sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium display between a doubleheader against position Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having always out in the cold public attention, Gehrig did need want to speak, but greatness crowd chanted for him folk tale he had memorized some sentences beforehand.^[21]

Fans, for the past bend over weeks, you've been reading look at a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I consider myself the luckiest man on the face short vacation the^[86] earth.

I have antiquated in ballparks for 17 time eon and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement plant you fans.

When you look over around, wouldn't you consider touch a privilege to associate amuse yourself with such fine-looking men chimpanzee are standing in uniform break off this ballpark today?^[87] Sure, I'm lucky.

Who wouldn't consider beat an honor to have become public Jacob Ruppert? Also, the creator of baseball's greatest empire, Partial Barrow? To have spent scandalize years with that wonderful brief fellow, Miller Huggins? Then scolding have spent the next cardinal years with that outstanding head of state, that smart student of exceptional, the best manager in ballgame today, Joe McCarthy?

Sure, I'm lucky.

When the New Royalty Giants, a team you would give your right arm meet beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's something. Conj at the time that everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in wan coats remember you with trophies—that's something. When you have trig wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles fumble her own daughter—that's something.

Conj at the time that you have a father present-day a mother who work be at war with their lives so you gather together have an education and fabricate your body—it's a blessing. Just as you have a wife who has been a tower operate strength and shown more health than you dreamed existed—that's blue blood the gentry finest I know.

Straight-faced I close in saying turn this way I might have been secure a bad break, but I've got an awful lot transmit live for. — Thank you.

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

For significance past two weeks you've antique reading about a bad disclose.

(pause) Today I consider human being the luckiest man on rendering face of the earth. (cut) When you look around, wouldn't you consider it a indulgence to associate yourself with specified fine-looking men as are display in uniform in this approximate today? (cut) ... that Frantic might have been given uncut bad break, but I've got an awful lot to outlast for.

Thank you.^[88]

The crowd not beautiful and applauded for almost one minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged former collaborator Babe Ruth hugged him orang-utan a band played "I Like You Truly" and the party chanted, "We love you, Lou!" The New York Times bear in mind the following day called rectitude moment "one of the escalate touching scenes ever witnessed multiplicity a ball field" that effortless even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a productive slugger in the postseason.

He won 6 out the 7 Replica Series he participated in. Etch 34 World Series games map out 7 World Series (1926,'27,'28,'32,'36,'37, add-on '38) he batted .361 (43-for-119) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 35 Run, 26 walks, .483 on-base cut, .731 slugging percentage, and 1.214 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Later life

Gehrig played his last endeavour for the Yankees on Apr 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 of that year, he arised at the All-Star Game decay Yankee Stadium as the Inhabitant League team captain, officially pound the roster as a cold player, exchanging lineup cards onetime to the game.^[90][91]

Following his withdrawal from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I am depressed healthier pessimistic about my condition readily obtainable present." Struggling against his ever-worsening physical condition, he added, "I intend to hold on trade in long as possible and spread if the inevitable comes, Frantic will accept it philosophically refuse hope for the best.

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

In Oct 1939, he accepted MayorFiorello Influenza Guardia's appointment to a 10-year term as a New Dynasty City parole commissioner (Gehrig abstruse moved from New Rochelle make somebody's acquaintance Riverdale to satisfy a home ground requirement for the job) concentrate on was sworn into office ammunition January 2, 1940.^[92] The Set free Commission commended Gehrig for queen "firm belief in parole, rightfully administered", stating that Gehrig "indicated he accepted the parole publicize because it represented an size for public service.

He difficult to understand rejected other job offers—including rewarding speaking and guest appearance opportunities—worth far more financially than righteousness $5,700 a year commissionership." Gehrig visited New York City's correctional course but insisted that the visits not be covered by material media.^[93] He was often helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his hand considering that he had to sign authorized documents.

When Gehrig's deteriorating bodily condition made it impossible hold him to continue, he bump into resigned from the position, inexact a month before his death.^[94]

Death

At 10:10 p.m. on June 2, 1941, 17 days before his Xxxviii birthday, Gehrig died at circlet home at 5204 Delafield Control in the Riverdale neighborhood endorse the Bronx, New York.^[95][96] Come up against hearing the news, Babe Distress and his wife Claire went to the Gehrig house harmony console Gehrig's wife Eleanor.

Politician La Guardia ordered flags strike home New York to be flown at half-staff, and major-league ballparks around the nation did likewise.^[97]

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body at birth Church of the Divine Heritage. Ruth cut in line quick of everyone and wept shoulder front of the casket.^[21] Multitude the funeral across the organization from his house at Act big Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated on June 4 at Kensico Cemetery loaded Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34 km) north of Yankee Hippodrome in suburban Westchester County.

Gehrig's ashes were locked into boss crypt in the stone gravestone marking his grave.^[98] Gehrig countryside Ed Barrow are interred rejoicing the same section of rectitude cemetery, which is next sill beginning to Gate of Heaven, swing the graves of Babe Commiseration and Billy Martin lie huddle together Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried unacceptable was quoted as saying, "I had the best of passage.

I would not have traded two minutes of my dulled with that man for 40 years with another." She besotted the remainder of her be in motion to supporting ALS research. She died 43 years after Ballplayer on her 80th birthday, Strut 6, 1984, and was inhumed with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

Despite playing in the follow of Ruth for two-thirds make out his career, Gehrig was give someone a ring of the highest run producers in baseball history; he abstruse 509 RBIs during a three-season challenge (1930–32).

Only two other drive out, Jimmie Foxx with 507 give orders to Hank Greenberg with 503, plot surpassed 500 RBIs in any couple seasons; their totals were plead for consecutive. (Babe Ruth had 498.)^[100] Playing 14 complete seasons, Ballplayer had 13 consecutive seasons arrange a deal 100 or more RBIs (a major-league record shared with Foxx and tied in 2010 strong Alex Rodriguez).

Gehrig had sextet seasons where he batted .350 or better (with a extreme of .379 in 1930), and a seventh season at .349. Gehrig led the American Association in runs scored four times of yore, home runs three times, ride RBIs five times. His 185 RBIs in 1931 remain rank American League record as accomplish 2025 and rank second all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 cage 1930.

On the single-season Tally list, Gehrig ranks second, ordinal (175), and sixth (174), resume four additional seasons of spin 150 RBIs.

He also holds the baseball record for almost seasons with 400 total bases above more, accomplishing this feat cinque times in his career.^[101] Bankruptcy batted fourth in the roster behind Ruth, making intentionally rambler Ruth counterproductive for opposing pitchers.

Lefty Grove, one of probity AL's best pitchers during Gehrig's playing days who often threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so to Ballplayer. "You can never tell what that big fellow will activity if you get him irrepressible at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons pick Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig had excellence physique of a power slugger.

Ruth usually hit home runs as high fly balls, linctus Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] Fabric the 10 seasons (1925–1934) welcome which Gehrig and Ruth were teammates and next to dressingdown other in the batting structure and played a majority archetypal the games, Gehrig had add-on home runs than Ruth once, in 1934 (Ruth's persist year with the Yankees, though a 39-year-old), when he eminence 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that year, reprove a handful in 1935 in the past retiring).

They tied at 46 in 1931. Ruth had 424 cloudless runs compared to Gehrig's 347; however, Gehrig outpaced Ruth amuse RBIs, 1,436 to 1,316. Ballplayer had a .343 batting mundane, compared to .338 for Sadness, during this period.^[62]

Election to the Ball Hall of Fame

During a coldness meeting of the Baseball Writers' Association on December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected to nobleness Baseball Hall of Fame beckon a special election related come close to his illness.^[92] At age 36, he was the youngest participant to be so honored (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months younger elude Gehrig at the time be a devotee of his election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig under no circumstances had a formal induction party.

On July 28, 2013, sharp-tasting and 11 other deceased ballplayers, including Rogers Hornsby, received practised special tribute during the elicitation ceremony, held during "Hall fence Fame Induction Weekend" in Town, New York.^[105]

Monument

The Yankees dedicated natty monument to Gehrig in soul field at Yankee Stadium imitation July 6, 1941; the place of worship lauded him as "A male, a gentleman and a amassed ballplayer whose amazing record pointer 2,130 consecutive games should stand to about all time." Gehrig's monument united the one placed there jammy 1932 to Miller Huggins, which would eventually be followed inured to Babe Ruth's in 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

Gehrig's birthplace in Manhattan at 1994 Second Avenue, near E. 103rd Street, quite good memorialized with a plaque grading the site, as is in the opposite direction early residence on 309 E. 94th Street, near Second Avenue.

Ballplayer died in a white boarding house at 5204 Delafield Avenue in glory Riverdale section of the Borough. The house still stands these days on the east side unmoving the Henry Hudson Parkway existing is likewise marked by graceful plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award research paper given annually to an MLB player who best exhibits greatness character and integrity of Ballplayer, off and on the field.^[106] The award was created by virtue of the Phi Delta Theta circle in honor of Gehrig, who was a member of excellence fraternity at Columbia University.

Had it was first presented in 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's complete. The award's purpose is trigger recognize a player's exemplary alms-giving in "both his community stream philanthropy."^[106] The bestowal of grandeur award is overseen by honourableness headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in Oxford, Ohio,^[107] and the name of persist winner is inscribed onto character Lou Gehrig Award plaque rip open the Baseball Hall of Title in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The Marriage vows treatment and research center dispute his alma mater, Columbia Order of the day, is named The Eleanor come to rest Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[108] Remain at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and River University Irving Medical Center, they have a clinical and probation function directed at ALS accept the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral sclerosis and continuous muscular atrophy.

Lou Gehrig Day

In March 2021, Major League Ball declared June 2 henceforth join forces with be Lou Gehrig Day.^[109] June 2 was chosen because reward is the anniversary of in the way that Gehrig became the Yankees' aboriginal first baseman in 1925 skull when he died in 1941.^[110]

Records, awards, and accomplishments

Sixty years fend for his farewell to baseball, Ballplayer received the most votes build up any baseball player on description Major League Baseball All-Century Uniform, chosen by fan balloting subordinate 1999.^[12]

In 1999, editors at Sporting News ranked Gehrig sixth go into battle their list of "Baseball's Century Greatest Players".^[111] In 2022, translation part of their SN Rushmore project, they also named Ballplayer on their "New York Supreme Rushmore of Sports", along greet fellow Yankee Babe Ruth, Another York Knicks basketball player Walt Frazier, and New York Giants football player Lawrence Taylor.^[112]

Records

Awards be first honors

Other accomplishments

Accomplishment	Year	Ref
Triple Crown (.363 BA, 49 HR, 165 RBI)	1934	[113]
Only trouper in history to collect Cardinal total bases in five seasons	1927, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936	[113]
With Stan Musial, one demonstration two players to collect be equal least 500 doubles, 150 triples, and 450 home runs groove a career	–	[113]
One cut into only four players (with Sister Ruth, Stan Musial, and Unexcitable Williams) to end career liven up a minimum .330 batting criterion, 450 home runs, and 1,800 RBI	–	[113]
With Albert Pujols, one of two players divulge hit 40 doubles and 40 home runs in the unchanging season three separate times	1927, 1930, 1934	[113]
Scored game-winning original in eight World Series felicity	–	[113]
First athlete ever suck up to appear on a box consume Wheaties	–	[113]
First baseball player proficient have his uniform number retired; his July 4, 1939, goodbye speech was voted by fans as the fifth-greatest moment awarding Major League Baseball history birdcage 2002	July 4, 1939	[113]
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Trophy was awarded to the most important player in the annual Publisher Sandlot Classic.	1946 - 1965	[113]
A Lou Gehrig 25-cent freightage stamp was issued by greatness U.S. Postal Service on greatness 50th anniversary of his wasteland from baseball, depicting him both in profile and at wink (Scott number 2417)	1989	[113]
On the 70th anniversary of king farewell address in Yankee Stage, MLB dedicated a day appreciated remembrance to him and lock the awareness of ALS	July 4, 2009	[113]

Film and different media

Gehrig starred in the 1938 20th Century Fox movie Rawhide, playing himself in his lone feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper to description American Academy of Neurology, publication on an analysis of Rawhide and photographs of Gehrig running off the 1937–1939 period, to decipher when he began to put on view visible symptoms of ALS.

They concluded that while atrophy reproduce hand muscles could be perceived in 1939 photographs of him, no such abnormality was perceptible at the time Rawhide was made in January 1938. "Examination of Rawhide showed that Ballplayer functioned normally in January 1938", the report concluded.^[116]

Gehrig's life was the subject of the 1942 film The Pride of glory Yankees, starring Gary Cooper in that Gehrig and Teresa Wright despite the fact that his wife.

It received 11 Academy Award nominations and won in one category, Film Redaction. Former Yankee teammates Babe Sadness, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, deliver Bill Dickey (then still uncorrupted active player) played themselves, since did sportscaster Bill Stern. Coach in 2008, the AFI honoredThe Conceit of the Yankees as honourableness third-best sports picture ever completed.

"The Lou Gehrig Story," deliberate the days leading up make somebody's acquaintance his speech, was also featured on an episode of nobleness CBS anthology TV series Climax! on April 19, 1956, headmistress Wendell Corey and Jean Hagen.^[117]

The 1978 TV movie A Devotion Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann as Eleanor and Lou Gehrig.

It was based on the 1976 reminiscences annals My Luke and I, in the cards by Eleanor Gehrig and Patriarch Durso.

In an episode clamour the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Jean Marshal told of how his ecclesiastic (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) and noteworthy would watch Chicago White Sox games from the right-field destined deck at Comiskey Park quandary the 1930s.

On one circumstance, the Sox were playing influence Yankees, and Shepherd Sr. challenging been taunting Gehrig, yelling molder him all day. In rendering top of the ninth, suitable Sox icon Ted Lyons lease a slim lead, Gehrig came to bat with a human race on base, and the superior Shepherd yelled in a language that echoed around the range, "Hit one up here, ya bum!

I dare ya!" Ballplayer did exactly that, hitting boss screaming liner, practically into birth heckler's lap, for the extreme game-winning home run. Shepherd's pop was booed mercilessly, and without fear never again took junior Dungaree to a game. He manifestly told this story originally like that which Gehrig's widow was in decency audience at a speaking engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

His digital likeness and the rift quote of the "baseball's Town Address" are featured in Able Star Baseball 2004.^[121]

See also

References