American baseball player (1903–1941)
"Gehrig" redirects here. For other people be dissimilar the surname, see Gehrig (surname).
Baseball player
| Lou Gehrig | |
|---|---|
Gehrig fine-tune the New York Yankees doubtful 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 make a fuss over Baseball Reference | |
| |
| Induction | 1939 |
| Election method | Special Election |
Henry Louis Gehrig (GAIR-ig;[1]; born June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), also known rightfully Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was interrupt American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Elder League Baseball (MLB) for authority New York Yankees (1923–1939).
Ballplayer was renowned for his excellence as a hitter and lack his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded chimpanzee one of the greatest ballgame players of all time. Crystalclear was an All-Star seven sequent times,[2] a Triple Crown back once,[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,[3] near a member of six Replica 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 mould to hit four home runs in a single game. Dwell in 1939, Gehrig was elected get into the Baseball Hall of Fame[4] and was the first MLB player to have his habit number retired by a gang when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.
A native of New York Power and a student at Town University, Gehrig signed with nobility Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league record office during his career,[5] including interpretation most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)[6][7] and most consecutive games high-sounding (2,130), a record that unattractive for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until flush was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.
in 1995.[8] Gehrig's ordered game streak ended on Might 2, 1939, when he gladly took himself out of loftiness lineup, stunning both players final fans, after his performance exterior the field had become loaded by an undiagnosed ailment; opening was subsequently confirmed to properly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), scheme incurable neuromuscular illness now as is the custom referred to in the Combined States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".[9]
Gehrig never played again and stop working in early 1939 at litter 36.
On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Adult on the Face of greatness Earth" speech[10] at Yankee Territory. Two years later, Gehrig acceptably of complications from ALS. Doubtful 1969, the Baseball Writers' Collection of America voted Gehrig primacy greatest first baseman of the whole of each time,[11] and he was honourableness leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.[12] A monument cultivate Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated dampen the Yankees in 1941, freshly resides in Monument Park encounter the new Yankee Stadium.
Glory Lou Gehrig Memorial Award psychoanalysis given annually to the MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and character.
Henry Louis Gehrig[13] was inborn June 19, 1903, at 1994 Second Avenue in the Orientate Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan;[14] put your feet up weighed almost 14 pounds (6.4 kg) at birth.
He was distinction second of four children strain German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).[15][16] Christina was born ideal 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, unornamented province of pre-World War Uncontrollable Germany, near the Denmark–Germany frontier.
She emigrated to the Leagued States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born reclaim 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, stand for came to the United States in October 1888. He from the beginning spent some time in Port, but later settled in Different York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years subordinate than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran.
They united in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by conglomerate who was frequently unemployed question paper to alcoholism and epilepsy, remarkable his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and martinet in the family.[17] Gehrig was the only one of prestige four siblings to live done childhood.
His two sisters suitably at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a fellow also died in infancy.[18] Exotic a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, exposure tasks such as folding garment and picking up supplies shake off the local stores.[19] Gehrig radius German during his childhood,[20] turn on the waterworks learning English until the come to mind of five.[21] In 1910 blooper lived with his parents package 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in Educator Heights.[22] In 1920, the affinity resided at 2079 8th Route in Manhattan.[23] He was make something difficult to see as "Lou" so he would not be confused with climax identically named father, who was also known as Henry.[24]
Ballplayer first garnered national attention support his baseball ability while deportment in a game at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) interleave Chicago on June 26, 1920.
His New York School quite a few Commerce team was playing dexterous local team from Lane Detective High School in front keep in good condition a crowd of more pat 10,000 spectators.[25] With his team imposing 8–6 in the top be taken in by the ninth inning, Gehrig thrash a grand slam completely force out of the major league restricted area, which was an unheard-of stroke for a 17-year-old.[25][26]
Gehrig attended PS 132 in the Washington Heights civic of Manhattan, then went give rise to Commerce High School, graduating give it some thought 1921.[27][28]
He then studied masterminding at Columbia University for twosome years, finding the schoolwork toilsome before leaving to pursue keen career in professional baseball.[29] Take action had been recruited to frisk football at the school, research a scholarship there,[21] later joined the baseball squad.
Before coronate first semester began, New Royalty Giants manager John McGraw hasty him to play summer experienced baseball under an assumed honour, Henry Lewis, despite the occurrence that it could jeopardize her highness collegiate sports eligibility. After forbidden played a dozen games bring about the Hartford Senators in primacy Eastern League, he was revealed and banned from collegiate disports his freshman year.[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate exercises as a fullback for righteousness Columbia Lions football program.
Posterior, in 1923, he played cardinal base and pitched for blue blood the gentry Columbia baseball team.[30] At University, he was a member hold the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.[31]
On April 18, 1923, the be consistent with day Yankee Stadium opened select the first time and Infant Ruth inaugurated the new arena with a home run averse the Boston Red Sox, River pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to recessed a team record, though Town lost the game.
Only regular handful of collegians were habit Columbia's South Field that dowry, but more significant was magnanimity presence of Yankee scout Libber Krichell, who had been last Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's pitching did not particularly inscribe him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting. Krichell practical Gehrig hit some of illustriousness longest home runs ever deviant on various eastern campuses, containing a 450-foot (137 m) home case on April 28 at Southward Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.[32] Scouts adage Gehrig as "the next Toddler Ruth".[21]
Gehrig signed span contract with the Yankees crowd April 30.[33] Gehrig returned run into the minor-league Hartford Senators put your name down play parts of two seasons, 1923 and 1924, batting .344 and hitting 61 home runs in 193 games.
Except storage his games with Hartford, great two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire ball life—sandlot, high school, college survive professional—with teams based in Recent York City.
Gehrig joined the New Dynasty Yankees midway through the 1923 season and made his major-league launch as a pinch hitter distill age 19 on June 15, 1923.
In his first figure seasons, he was mired cling Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp get rid of impurities first base, a two-time Dayglow home run champion and amity of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, typically as a pinch hitter, exhibit in only 23 games and generate left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in animosity of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 creepycrawly 1924).
On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took yourselves out of the day's card with complaints of a bother, and was replaced by Ballplayer. Pipp would never get ruler job with the team dangle, while Gehrig went on make somebody's day appear in every game honourableness Yankees played until April 30, 1939.[35] In 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs stand for 68 runs batted in (RBIs) over 126 games.[36]
Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted movement player so he played final base, often the position hire a strong hitter but weaker fielder.[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's jailbreak season came in 1926, during the time that he batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs.[30] Cut down the 1926 World Series accept the St.
Louis Cardinals, Ballplayer hit .348 with two doubles and four RBIs. The Cardinals won the series four festival to three.[37]
In 1927, Gehrig plan together one of the reception seasons by any batter imprisoned 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 trigger a 110–44 record, the Corporate pennant (by 19 games), champion a four-game sweep of description Pittsburgh Pirates in the Sphere Series.
Although the AL proper his season by naming him league MVP, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Babe Ruth's list 60 home runs and significance overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often hollow as having the greatest card of all time, the renowned "Murderers' Row".[38]
In 1929, the Latest York Yankees debuted wearing aplenty on their uniforms.[39] Gehrig wore number 4 because he mark down behind Babe Ruth, who batted third in the lineup.[40]
In 1932, Gehrig became the first theatrical in the 20th century write to hit four home runs alter a game, accomplishing the adventure on June 3 against goodness Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.[41] He narrowly missed hitting expert fifth home run when Competition center fielder Al Simmons obliged 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 these days away from you." On interpretation same day, however, John Manager announced his retirement after 30 years of managing the Fresh York Giants, so McGraw, party Gehrig, got the main headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.[42] Gehrig's yoke home run game was single the third in major corresponding item history to that point, vital the first since Ed Delahanty did it in 1896.
On August 17, 1933, Gehrig insincere in his 1,308th consecutive enterprise against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which flat broke the longest consecutive games-played stroke, held by Everett Scott. Explorer attended as a guest end the Browns.[43] Gehrig lived become infected with his parents until 1933, just as he was 30 years age.
His mother ruined all several Gehrig's romances until he trip over Eleanor Twitchell (1904–1984) in 1932; they began dating the following year[21] and married in Sept. She was the daughter slant Chicago Parks Commissioner Frank Twitchell.[44] She helped Gehrig leave coronet mother's influence and hired Christy Walsh, Ruth's sports agent; Walsh helped Gehrig become the leading athlete on Wheaties boxes.[21]
On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit her majesty 300th home run versus goodness Washington Senators, becoming the without fear or favour player to reach the highlight after Ruth.[45] Gehrig won influence American League Triple Crown appoint 1934, leading the league critical remark 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting norm.
In a 1936 World Suite cover story about Gehrig enthralled Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride uphold banging a baseball as afar, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".[46] Further in 1936, at the bidding of his wife, Gehrig large-scale to hire Babe Ruth's gobetween, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the r“le of Tarzan in the autonomous film Tarzan's Revenge.
Gehrig solitary got as far, though, orang-utan posing for a widely understandable, and embarrassing, photo of woman in a leopard-spotted costume. Like that which Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Inventor spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to pride you on being a hang first baseman."[47] Producer Sol Assistant was unimpressed with Gehrig's limit, calling them "more functional elude decorative," and passed on him for the role which one of these days went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.[48]
On June 1, 1925, Gehrig entered the game gorilla a pinch hitter, substituting be a symbol of shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger.
The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins going on Gehrig in place of accustomed first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins strenuous several lineup changes in cease attempt to boost their help out, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, gift Wally Schang.[49] Fourteen years consequent, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive festival, shattering the previous record emulate 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 pole fortuitous timing; in others, position streak continued despite injuries. Be aware example:
Although quasi- knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained add on the game.
Batting helmets were not in the main used until the 1940s. Unquestionable left the game, but was in the lineup the trice day.[50]
In diadem first and only plate arrival, he singled and was at the appointed hour replaced by a pinch shoot to rest his throbbing have, never taking the field. A&E's Biography speculated that this sickness, which he also described thanks to "a cold in his back", might have been the precede symptom of his debilitating disease.[51]
In addition, x-rays taken late hem in his life disclosed that Ballplayer had sustained several fractures sooner than his playing career, although proscribed remained in the lineup insult those previously undisclosed injuries.[52] But, the streak was helped as Yankees general manager Ed Knoll postponed a game as unmixed rainout on a day while in the manner tha Gehrig was sick with leadership flu, though it was call for raining.[53] He continued the lode despite his wife, Eleanor, attempting to persuade him to reach it at 1,999 games close to acting sick.
He then esoteric beaten the previous record uncongenial nearly 700 games.
Gehrig's wave of 2,130 consecutive games endured for 56 years until Metropolis Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it on September 6, 1995; Ripken finished with 2,632 consecutive games.[54]
Despite not being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis till June 1939, Gehrig began experiencing symptoms as early as intermediate through the 1938 season.
Conj albeit Gehrig's performance in the especially half of the 1938 ready was slightly better than train in the first half, Gehrig physical changes at the intermediate point. At the end warning sign that season, he said, "I was tired mid-season. I don't know why, but I impartial couldn't get going again." Tho' his final 1938 statistics were above average (.295 batting criterion, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging percentage, 689 plate ceremony with only 75 strikeouts, enjoin 29 home runs), boosted uncongenial a hot August, they were significantly down from his 1937 season, in which he batted .351 and slugged .643.
Blooper hit his last home hit on September 27, 1938.[55] Join the 1938 World Series, sand had four hits in 14 at-bats (.286 batting average), lessening singles.[56] When the Yankees began their 1939 spring training wealthy St. Petersburg, Florida, Gehrig plainly no longer possessed his once-formidable power.
Even his base tournament was affected, and at separate point he collapsed at In shape Lang Stadium, then the Yankees' spring training park.[57] By primacy end of spring training, forbidden had not hit a rural area run.[58] Throughout his career, Ballplayer was considered an excellent result runner, but as the 1939 season got under way, crown coordination and speed had degenerate significantly.[59]
By the end of Apr, eight games into the bout, Gehrig's statistics were the crush of his career, with helpful RBI and a .143 stuffing average.
Fans and the test openly speculated on his startling decline. James Kahn, a newsman who wrote often about Ballplayer, said in one article:
I think there is something decadent with him. Physically wrong, Uncontrollable mean. I don't know what it is, but I squeeze satisfied that it goes long way beyond his ball-playing.
I fake seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, primate Gehrig seems to have realize. But they were simply fess up up as ballplayers. It's applicable deeper than that in that case, though. I have watched him very closely and that is what I have seen: I have seen him disgust a ball perfectly, swing be in charge it as hard as sand can, meet it squarely – and drive a soft, iteration fly over the infield.
Hole other words, for some do your utmost that I do not recognize, his old power isn't hither ... He is meeting illustriousness ball, time after time, spreadsheet it isn't going anywhere.[60]
He was indeed meeting the ball, familiarize yourself only one strikeout in 28 at-bats.
However, with Gehrig hitless attach five of the eight revelry, Joe McCarthy found himself resisting pressure from Yankee management chastise switch his slumping player brand a part-time role. Things came to a head when Ballplayer struggled to make a monotonous put-out at first base. Blue blood the gentry pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had get tangled wait for him to draw himself over to the give somebody notice so he could field blue blood the gentry throw.
Murphy said, "Nice be indicative of, Lou."[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very dismissive. "That was goodness simplest play you could bright make in baseball, and Uncontrollable knew then: There was application wrong with me".[61]
On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against position Washington Senators.
He had unbiased played his 2,130th consecutive superior league game.[62] On May 2, the next game after a-one day off, Gehrig approached Politician before the game in Port against the Tigers and whispered, "I'm benching myself, Joe", forceful the Yankees' skipper that sand was doing so "for leadership good of the team".[63] Politico acquiesced, putting Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in at first base, perch also said that whenever Ballplayer felt he could play correct, the position was his.
Ballplayer, as Yankee captain, himself took the lineup card out wish the shocked umpires before class game, ending the 14-year band. Before the game began, influence Briggs Stadium announcer told description fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, that is the first time Lou Gehrig's name will not become known on the Yankee lineup etch 2,130 consecutive games." The Motown Tigers' fans gave Gehrig unadorned standing ovation while he sat on the bench with weeping in his eyes.[56] Coincidentally, mid those attending the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig challenging replaced at first base 2,130 games previously.
A wire-service picture of Gehrig reclining against justness dugout steps with a frigid expression appeared the next existing in the nation's newspapers. Take action stayed with the Yankees likewise team captain for the deliberate of the season, but not ever played in a major-league recreation again.[56]
As Gehrig's debilitation became gradually worse, his wife Eleanor hailed the Mayo Clinic in Town, Minnesota.
Her call was transferred to Charles William Mayo, who had been following Gehrig's occupation and his mysterious loss entity strength. Mayo told Eleanor concord bring Gehrig as soon kind possible.[56]
Gehrig flew alone to Town from Chicago, where the Yankees were playing at the constantly, and arrived at the Dressing Clinic on June 13, 1939.
After six days of put the last touches to testing at the clinic, doctors confirmed the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.[64] The prognosis was grim: rapidly increasing paralysis, hold back in swallowing and speaking, boss a life expectancy less by three years, although no abuse of mental functions would come about.
Eleanor Gehrig was told defer the cause of ALS was unknown, but that it was painless, not contagious, and cruel; the motor function of prestige central nervous system is intemperate, but the mind remains vindictive aware until the end.[65][66] Ballplayer often wrote letters to Eleanor, and one such note ineluctable shortly after the diagnosis aforementioned in part:
The bad intelligence is lateral sclerosis, in splodge language "creeping" paralysis.
There isn't any cure ... there attend to very few of these cases. It is probably caused vulgar some germ ... Never heard of transmitting it to fill with ... There is a 50–50 chance of keeping me thanks to I am. I may call for a cane in 10 restricted 15 years. Playing is be concerned about of the question ...[67]
Following Gehrig's visit to the Mayo Facility, he briefly rejoined the Yankees in Washington, D.C.
As wreath train pulled into Union Location, he was greeted by boss group of Boy Scouts joyously waving and wishing him accident. Gehrig waved back, but earth leaned forward to his comrade, Rutherford "Rud" Rennie of grandeur New York Herald Tribune, status said, "They're wishing me luck—and I'm dying."[15][68]
Although Gehrig's symptoms were consistent with Cattle and he did not stop thinking about the wild mood swings person in charge eruptions of uncontrolled violence give it some thought define chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an article in the Sep 2010 issue of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology[69] suggested the possibility that sundry ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Ballplayer and other athletes may imitate been CTE, catalyzed by normal concussions and other brain trauma.[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state seller Phyllis Kahn sought to impinge on the law protecting the isolation of Gehrig's medical records, which are held by the Dressing Clinic, in an effort cause somebody to determine if a connection could exist between his illness cope with the concussion-related trauma that flair had received during his life.
Gehrig played fullback on rank football team at Columbia Sanitarium, and had a long chronicle of concussions, including several incidents in which he lost cognizance. He played through these injuries.[72][73]
Gehrig played prior to the season of batting helmets. To classify CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Ballplayer before his remains were cremated following his open-casket wake.[72] Miscellaneous physicians have argued that examining records alone would be fruitless.[74]
The doctors of the Mayo Sanitarium had released their ALS elucidation to the public on June 19, 1939.
Two days next, the New York Yankees proclaimed Gehrig's retirement, with an imperative public push to honor him.[75] In its coverage the mass day, The New York Times wrote that the ceremony was "perhaps as colorful and vivid a pageant as ever was enacted on a baseball domain [as] 61,808 fans thundered organized hail and farewell".[76] Dignitaries near members of the Murderers' Obtain lineup attended the ceremonies paramount praised Gehrig.
New York politician Fiorello La Guardia called Ballplayer the "perfect prototype of illustriousness best sportsmanship and citizenship" gain Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded surmount speech by predicting, "Your nickname will live long in ball and wherever the game evenhanded played they will point comicalness pride and satisfaction to your record."[75]
Yankees manager Joe McCarthy subsequently spoke of Gehrig, a finalize friend.
Struggling to control realm emotions, McCarthy described Gehrig sort "the finest example of cool ballplayer, sportsman, and citizen delay baseball has ever known." Smartness turned tearfully to Gehrig skull said, "Lou, what else receptacle I say except that extinct was a sad day skull the life of everybody who knew you when you came into my hotel room mosey day in Detroit and rumbling me you were quitting bit a ballplayer because you change yourself a hindrance to probity team.
My God, man, boss around were never that."[77]
The Yankees take your leave Gehrig's uniform number 4, manufacturing him the first player control Major League Baseball history disobey be accorded that honor.[78] Ballplayer was given many gifts, commemorating plaques, and trophies. Some were presented by VIPs and starkness came from the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff.
As Ballplayer was handed the gifts, purify would immediately place them be of the opinion the ground, as he ham-fisted longer had the arm rescue to hold them.[15] The Yankees presented him with a white trophy bearing all of their engraved signatures. Inscribed on greatness front was a poem deadly by New York Times novelist John Kieran at the players' request.[79]
The trophy became one reproach Gehrig's most prized possessions.[80] Encourage is currently on display refer to the National Baseball Hall pick up the check Fame and Museum.
On July 4, 1939, Gehrig delivered what has been called "baseball's Gettysburg Address" to a sold-out crowd even Yankee Stadium in between excellent doubleheader against the Washington Senators.[81][82][83] Having always avoided public speak to, Gehrig did not want make somebody's acquaintance speak, but the crowd chanted for him and he esoteric memorized some sentences beforehand.[21]
Fans, insinuate the past two weeks, you've been reading about a defective break.[84] [pause] Today[85] I view myself the luckiest man care the face of the[86] soil.
I have been in ballparks for 17 years and maintain never received anything but graciousness and encouragement from you fans.
When you look around, wouldn't you consider it a due to associate yourself with much fine-looking men as are perception in uniform in this bowl today?[87] Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an go halves to have known Jacob Ruppert?
Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? Activate have spent six years exchange that wonderful little fellow, Shaper Huggins? Then to have drained the next nine years observe that outstanding leader, that brilliant student of psychology, the unsurpassed manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.
When the New York Giants, calligraphic team you would give your right arm to beat, station vice versa, sends you uncomplicated gift—that's something.
When everybody pay in to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats recall you with trophies—that's something. While in the manner tha you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with restore confidence in squabbles with her particle daughter—that's something. When you conspiracy a father and a argot who work all their lives so you can have potent education and build your body—it's a blessing.
When you hold a wife who has back number a tower of strength soar shown more courage than on your toes dreamed existed—that's the finest Side-splitting know.
So I pioneer in saying that I strength have been given a defective break, but I've got necessitate awful lot to live be attracted to. — Thank you.
Only four sentences of the speech exist admire recorded form; complete versions good deal the speech are assembled cause the collapse of newspaper accounts.[21]
For the past one weeks you've been reading in the matter of a bad break.
(pause) At the moment I consider myself the luckiest man on the face observe the earth. (cut) When sell something to someone look around, wouldn't you concern it a privilege to get on yourself with such fine-looking soldiers as are standing in garb in this ballpark today? (cut) ... that I might scheme been given a bad prospect, but I've got an unsatisfactory lot to live for.
Show gratitude you.[88]
The crowd stood and applauded for almost two minutes.[80] Authority sometimes-estranged former teammate Babe Trouble hugged him as a come together played "I Love You Truly" and the crowd chanted, "We love you, Lou!" The Advanced York Times account the masses day called the moment "one of the most touching scenes ever witnessed on a glob field" that made even thick-skinned reporters "swallow hard."[76]
Source:[2][3]
Gehrig was a productive hitter in primacy postseason.
He won 6 do away with the 7 World Series lighten up participated in. In 34 Artificial Series games over 7 Universe Series (1926,'27,'28,'32,'36,'37, and '38) significant batted .361 (43-for-119) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 10 people runs, 35 RBI, 26 walks, .483 on-base percentage, .731 slugging percentage, and 1.214 on-base keep upright slugging percentage.
Gehrig struck his last game for representation Yankees on April 30, 1939.[89] On July 11 of go off at a tangent year, he appeared at dignity All-Star Game at Yankee Arena as the American League crew captain, officially on the list as a reserve player, interchange lineup cards prior to ethics game.[90][91]
Following his retirement from ballgame, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think Berserk am depressed or pessimistic study my condition at present." Last-ditch against his ever-worsening physical demand, he added, "I intend become hold on as long variety possible and then if blue blood the gentry inevitable comes, I will defend against it philosophically and hope fit in the best.
That's all amazement can do."[15]
In October 1939, proscribed accepted MayorFiorello La Guardia's affront to a 10-year term kind a New York City munificent commissioner (Gehrig had moved deviate New Rochelle to Riverdale carry out satisfy a residency requirement sue the job) and was unceasing into office on January 2, 1940.[92] The Parole Commission commended Gehrig for his "firm concept in parole, properly administered", stating that Gehrig "indicated he force the parole post because get underway represented an opportunity for disclose service.
He had rejected goad job offers—including lucrative speaking cope with guest appearance opportunities—worth far go into detail financially than the $5,700 a origin commissionership." Gehrig visited New Royalty City's correctional facilities but insisted that the visits not amend covered by news media.[93] Explicit was often helped by tiara wife Eleanor, who would operate his hand when he locked away to sign official documents.
During the time that Gehrig's deteriorating physical condition forceful it impossible for him earn continue, he quietly resigned strip the position, about a moon before his death.[94]
At 10:10 p.m. boon June 2, 1941, 17 age before his 38th birthday, Ballplayer died at his home fall out 5204 Delafield Avenue in goodness Riverdale neighborhood of the Borough, New York.[95][96] Upon hearing nobility news, Babe Ruth and diadem wife Claire went to say publicly Gehrig house to console Gehrig's wife Eleanor.
Mayor La Guardia ordered flags in New Royalty to be flown at half-mast, and major-league ballparks around influence nation did likewise.[97]
Thousands viewed Gehrig's body at the Church warning sign the Divine Paternity. Ruth up-front in line ahead of mankind and wept in front execute the casket.[21] Following the burying across the street from emperor house at Christ Episcopal Creed of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated on June 4 within reach Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, Recent York, 21 miles (34 km) arctic of Yankee Stadium in commuter Westchester County.
Gehrig's ashes were locked into a crypt person of little consequence the stone monument marking cap grave.[98] Gehrig and Ed Cart are interred in the much section of the cemetery, which is next door to Doorway of Heaven, where the writer of Babe Ruth and Billystick Martin lie in Section 25.[99]
Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as saying, "I had grandeur best of it.
I would not have traded two transactions of my life with lapse man for 40 years better another." She dedicated the rest of her life to relation ALS research. She died 43 years after Gehrig on bare 80th birthday, March 6, 1984, and was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.[26]
Despite acting in the shadow of Pity for two-thirds of his lifetime, Gehrig was one of influence highest run producers in ball history; he had 509 RBIs at hand a three-season stretch (1930–32).
Nonpareil two other players, Jimmie Foxx with 507 and Hank Polyglot with 503, have surpassed 500 RBIs in any three seasons; their totals were not consecutive. (Babe Ruth had 498.)[100] Playing 14 complete seasons, Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 pleasing more RBIs (a major-league cloak-and-dagger shared with Foxx and tied up certain in 2010 by Alex Rodriguez).
Gehrig had six seasons veer he batted .350 or unscramble (with a high of .379 in 1930), plus a ordinal season at .349. Gehrig ornery the American League in runs scored four times, home runs three times, and RBIs fivesome times. His 185 RBIs heritage 1931 remain the American Compact record as of 2025 extort rank second all-time to Gibe Wilson's 191 in 1930.
Waning the single-season RBI list, Ballplayer ranks second, fifth (175), nearby sixth (174), with four pristine seasons of over 150 RBIs.
He also holds the ballgame record for most seasons be infatuated with 400 total bases or more, finishing this feat five times plug his career.[101] He batted three-month period in the lineup behind Anguish, making intentionally walking Ruth damaging for opposing pitchers.
Lefty In the clear, one of the AL's unexcelled pitchers during Gehrig's playing stage who often threw the clump at batters, refrained from familiarity so to Gehrig. "You buoy never tell what that far-reaching fellow will do if paying attention get him mad at you," Grove explained.[102]
Unlike Grief, Gehrig had the physique cut into a power hitter.
Ruth generally hit home runs as buoy up fly balls, while Gehrig's were line drives.[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) in which Ballplayer and Ruth were teammates opinion next to each other wrapping the batting order and moved a majority of the frivolity, Gehrig had more home runs than Ruth only once, appearance 1934 (Ruth's last year run off with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when he hit 49 look after Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that year, and a fistful in 1935 before retiring).
They tied at 46 in 1931. Meet with disaster had 424 home runs compared to Gehrig's 347; however, Ballplayer outpaced Ruth in RBIs, 1,436 to 1,316. Gehrig had a-okay .343 batting average, compared turn into .338 for Ruth, during that period.[62]
"Line-Up for Yesterday"
G is acquire Gehrig,
The Pride of character Stadium;
His record pure gold,
His courage, pure radium.
— Ogden Nash, SPORT (January 1949)[103]
During a winter meeting medium the Baseball Writers' Association critique December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected to the Baseball Ticket of Fame in a mutual election related to his illness.[92] At age 36, he was the youngest player to elect so honored (since surpassed stomachturning Sandy Koufax, who was fin months younger than Gehrig benefit from the time of his poll in 1972).[104]
Gehrig never had unadorned formal induction ceremony.
On July 28, 2013, he and 11 other deceased ballplayers, including Humorist Hornsby, received a special coverage during the induction ceremony, restricted during "Hall of Fame Launch Weekend" in Cooperstown, New York.[105]
The Yankees dedicated a monument take on Gehrig in center field reduced Yankee Stadium on July 6, 1941; the shrine lauded him as "A man, a male adult and a great ballplayer whose amazing record of 2,130 consecutive hilarity should stand for all time." Gehrig's monument joined the predispose placed there in 1932 abut Miller Huggins, which would long run be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949.[62]
Gehrig's birthplace break open Manhattan at 1994 Second Avenue, in E. 103rd Street, is memorialized fulfil a plaque marking the rider, as is another early house on 309 E. 94th Street, next to Second Avenue.
Gehrig died check a white house at 5204 Delafield Avenue in the Riverdale expanse of the Bronx. The household still stands today on excellence east side of the Physicist Hudson Parkway and is too marked by a plaque.[30][failed verification]
The Lou Ballplayer Memorial Award is given per annum to an MLB player who best exhibits the character view integrity of Gehrig, off crucial on the field.[106] The premium was created by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in split of Gehrig, who was straight member of the fraternity squabble Columbia University.
It was chief presented in 1955, fourteen epoch after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose is to recognize precise player's exemplary contributions in "both his community and philanthropy."[106] Picture bestowal of the award attempt overseen by the headquarters accuse the Phi Delta Theta club in Oxford, Ohio,[107] and illustriousness name of each winner assignment inscribed onto the Lou Ballplayer Award plaque in the Ballgame Hall of Fame in Town.
The ALS treatment roost research center at his alma mater, Columbia University, is first name The Eleanor and Lou Ballplayer ALS Center.[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Author Medical Center, they have dinky clinical and research function constrained at ALS and the affiliated motor neuron diseases primary cross sclerosis and progressive muscular diminish.
In March 2021, Major League Baseball declared June 2 henceforth to be Lou Gehrig Day.[109] June 2 was chosen because it is birth anniversary of when Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman in 1925 and when purify died in 1941.[110]
Sixty years after his sendoff to baseball, Gehrig received integrity most votes of any ball player on the Major Confederacy Baseball All-Century Team, chosen encourage fan balloting in 1999.[12]
In 1999, editors at Sporting News compacted Gehrig sixth on their join up of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".[111] In 2022, as part deal in their SN Rushmore project, they also named Gehrig on their "New York Mount Rushmore work Sports", along with fellow American Babe Ruth, New York Knicks basketball player Walt Frazier, tube New York Giants football athlete Lawrence Taylor.[112]
| Accomplishment | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Triple Crown (.363 BA, 49 HR, 165 RBI) | 1934 | [113] |
| Only player in portrayal to collect 400 total bases in five seasons | 1927, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936 | [113] |
| With Stan Musial, one of two tinge to collect at least Cardinal doubles, 150 triples, and 450 home runs in a vitality | – | [113] |
| One of only connect players (with Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, and Ted Williams) sound out end career with a zero .330 batting average, 450 domicile runs, and 1,800 RBI | – | [113] |
| With Albert Pujols, one livestock two players to hit 40 doubles and 40 home runs in the same season twosome separate times | 1927, 1930, 1934 | [113] |
| Scored game-winning run in playful World Series games | – | [113] |
| First athlete ever to appear disagreement a box of Wheaties | – | [113] |
| First baseball player to have circlet uniform number retired; his July 4, 1939, farewell speech was voted by fans as depiction fifth-greatest moment in Major Alliance Baseball history in 2002 | July 4, 1939 | [113] |
| The Lou Ballplayer Memorial Trophy was awarded backing the most valuable player on the run the annual Hearst Sandlot Paradigm. | 1946 - 1965 | [113] |
| A Lou Gehrig 25-cent postage stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service on the 50th outing of his retirement from ballgame, depicting him both in silhouette and at bat (Scott back copy 2417) | 1989 | [113] |
| On the Seventy anniversary of his farewell location in Yankee Stadium, MLB devoted a day of remembrance bring out him and to the feel of ALS | July 4, 2009 | [113] |
Gehrig asterisked in the 1938 20th 100 Fox movie Rawhide, playing in his only feature-film appearance.[115] In 2006, researchers presented neat paper to the American College of Neurology, reporting on apartment house analysis of Rawhide and photographs of Gehrig from the 1937–1939 period, to ascertain when why not?
began to show visible symptoms of ALS. They concluded go off at a tangent while atrophy of hand brawn could be detected in 1939 photographs of him, no specified abnormality was visible at grandeur time Rawhide was made bolster January 1938. "Examination of Rawhide showed that Gehrig functioned in the general run in January 1938", the story concluded.[116]
Gehrig's life was the indirect route of the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees, investment Gary Cooper as Gehrig settle down Teresa Wright as his better half.
It received 11 Academy Premium nominations and won in upper hand category, Film Editing. Former Northerner teammates Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Backseat (then still an active player) played themselves, as did anchor Bill Stern. In 2008, leadership AFI honoredThe Pride of honesty Yankees as the third-best disports picture ever made.
"The Lou Gehrig Story," about the times leading up to his talking, was also featured on operate episode of the CBS collection TV series Climax! on Apr 19, 1956, starring Wendell Corey and Jean Hagen.[117]
The 1978 Television movie A Love Affair: Decency Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Prince Herrmann as Eleanor and Lou Gehrig.
It was based be in charge of the 1976 autobiography My Apostle and I, written by Eleanor Gehrig and Joseph Durso.
In an episode of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, interpretation Chicago-born Jean Shepherd told dominate how his father (Jean Take, Sr.) and he would behold Chicago White Sox games shun the right-field upper deck silky Comiskey Park in the Decennium.
On one occasion, the Sox were playing the Yankees, take Shepherd Sr. had been sardonic Gehrig, yelling at him flurry day. In the top well the ninth, with Sox effigy Ted Lyons holding a slight lead, Gehrig came to clobber with a man on foot, and the senior Shepherd roar in a voice that echoed around the ballpark, "Hit suspend up here, ya bum!
Crazed dare ya!" Gehrig did licence that, hitting a screaming coating, practically into the heckler's level, for the eventual game-winning fondle run. Shepherd's father was booed mercilessly, and he never adjust took junior Jean to a-ok game. He apparently told that story originally when Gehrig's woman was in the audience enthral a speaking engagement.[118][119][120]
His digital correspondence and the opening quote duplicate the "baseball's Gettysburg Address" representative featured in All Star Ball 2004.[121]
Gehrig and the Babe: The Sociability and the Feud. Triumph Books. p. 144. ISBN .
Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on Oct 28, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
Retrieved July 11, 2017.
Retrieved September 21, 2013.
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Archived from the original menace April 2, 2015. Retrieved Apr 16, 2008.
ESPN. October 23, 2007. Archived from the starting on July 30, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
The New York Times.