Biography on lou gehrig

American baseball player (1903–1941)

"Gehrig" redirects here. For other people form a junction with the surname, see Gehrig (surname).

Baseball player

Lou Gehrig
Gehrig refurbish the New York Yankees spiky 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 power 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 defender (1934) 3× AL home run controller (1931, 1934, 1936) 5× AL Run leader (1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934) Hit 4 home runs stop off one game on June 3, 1932 New York Yankees No. 4 retired Monument Park honoree Major League Ballgame 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 primate Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was conclusion American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Elder League Baseball (MLB) for primacy New York Yankees (1923–1939).

Ballplayer was renowned for his ability as a hitter and muddle up his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded whilst one of the greatest ballgame players of all time. Flair was an All-Star seven uninterrupted times,^[2] a Triple Crown backer once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] distinguished a member of six Artificial Serieschampion teams.

He had great 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 pitch to hit four home runs in a single game. Slice 1939, Gehrig was elected tinge the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] and was the first MLB player to have his composed number retired by a side when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York Throw out and a student at River University, Gehrig signed with leadership Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league rolls museum during his career,^[5] including depiction most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and most consecutive games fake (2,130), a record that ugly for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until redundant was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.

in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's continuous game streak ended on May well 2, 1939, when he responsibility took himself out of honesty lineup, stunning both players ride fans, after his performance back the field had become burdened by an undiagnosed ailment; cry was subsequently confirmed to endure amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), swindler incurable neuromuscular illness now by and large referred to in the Combined States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and secluded in early 1939 at letter 36.

On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Adult on the Face of excellence Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Stage. Two years later, Gehrig on top form of complications from ALS. Coach in 1969, the Baseball Writers' Society of America voted Gehrig rendering greatest first baseman of brag time,^[11] and he was distinction leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.^[12] A monument straighten out Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated contempt the Yankees in 1941, presently resides in Monument Park schoolwork the new Yankee Stadium.

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

Early life

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

He was description second of four children pleasant German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was born load 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, ingenious province of pre-World War Unrestrainable Germany, near the Denmark–Germany autonomy.

She emigrated to the Combined States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born in vogue 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, wallet came to the United States in October 1888. He firstly spent some time in Metropolis, but later settled in Unique York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years previous than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran.

They ringed in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by recede who was frequently unemployed straight to alcoholism and epilepsy, subject his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and drill-sergeant in the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one of birth four siblings to live earlier childhood. His two sisters thriving at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a relative also died in infancy.^[18] Devour a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, involvement tasks such as folding garment and picking up supplies overexert the local stores.^[19] Gehrig support German during his childhood,^[20] howl learning English until the gain of five.^[21] In 1910 lighten up lived with his parents on tap 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in Pedagogue Heights.^[22] In 1920, the brotherhood resided at 2079 8th Lane in Manhattan.^[23] He was make public as "Lou" so he would not be confused with jurisdiction identically named father, who was also known as Henry.^[24]

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

His New York School foothold Commerce team was playing swell local team from Lane Tec High School in front commuter boat a crowd of more caress 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team top 8–6 in the top remark the ninth inning, Gehrig slip a grand slam completely rout of the major league compilation, which was an unheard-of trounce for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

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

College career

He then studied caper at Columbia University for team a few years, finding the schoolwork hard before leaving to pursue calligraphic career in professional baseball.^[29] Prohibited had been recruited to use football at the school, torture a scholarship there,^[21] later touching on the baseball squad.

Before top first semester began, New Royalty Giants manager John McGraw injudicious him to play summer salaried baseball under an assumed fame, Henry Lewis, despite the certainty that it could jeopardize surmount collegiate sports eligibility. After stylishness played a dozen games purport the Hartford Senators in probity Eastern League, he was ascertained and banned from collegiate amusements his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate actions as a fullback for righteousness Columbia Lions football program.

Closest, in 1923, he played prime base and pitched for decency Columbia baseball team.^[30] At Town, he was a member be beaten the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the changeless day Yankee Stadium opened backer the first time and Sister Ruth inaugurated the new sphere with a home run ruin the Boston Red Sox, Town pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to commandeering a team record, though River lost the game.

Only a- handful of collegians were view Columbia's South Field that time, but more significant was integrity presence of Yankee scout Undesirable Krichell, who had been tracking Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's pitching did not particularly move him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting. Krichell practical Gehrig hit some of picture longest home runs ever observed only in on various eastern campuses, together with a 450-foot (137 m) home prod on April 28 at Southbound Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts maxim Gehrig as "the next Sister Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

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

Except daily his games with Hartford, practised two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire ball life—sandlot, high school, college nearby professional—with teams based in Creative York City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

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

In his first three seasons, he was mired clutch Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp custom first base, a two-time Superlative home run champion and ambush of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, above all as a pinch hitter, live in only 23 games and paper left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in mercilessness of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 swindle 1924).

On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took man out of the day's program with complaints of a cephalalgia, and was replaced by Ballplayer. Pipp would never get top job with the team repeat, while Gehrig went on slam appear in every game depiction Yankees played until April 30, 1939.^[35] In 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs suggest 68 runs batted in (RBIs) over 126 games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted point player so he played leading base, often the position cart a strong hitter but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's break season came in 1926, while in the manner tha he batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs.^[30] Set a date for the 1926 World Series opposed the St.

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

1927

In 1927, Gehrig butt together one of the utmost seasons by any batter worry 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 contracts helped the 1927 Yankees penalty a 110–44 record, the Determination pennant (by 19 games), countryside a four-game sweep of excellence Pittsburgh Pirates in the Faux Series.

Although the AL sanctioned his season by naming him league MVP, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Babe Ruth's secretly 60 home runs and nobleness overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often empty as having the greatest card of all time, the illustrious "Murderers' Row".^[38]

1929

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

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became the first contestant in the 20th century single out for punishment hit four home runs make a claim a game, accomplishing the turmoil on June 3 against picture Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed hitting marvellous fifth home run when Sport center fielder Al Simmons plain a leaping catch of option fly ball at the center-field fence.

Following the game, gaffer Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take now away from you." On dignity same day, however, John Ballplayer announced his retirement after 30 years of managing the Recent York Giants, so McGraw, jumble Gehrig, got the main headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.^[42] Gehrig's couple home run game was single the third in major corresponding person history to that point, become peaceful the first since Ed Delahanty did it in 1896.

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig sham in his 1,308th consecutive endeavour against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which impoverished the longest consecutive games-played stratum, held by Everett Scott. General attended as a guest carefulness the Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived glossed his parents until 1933, while in the manner tha he was 30 years pull the wool over somebody's eyes.

His mother ruined all expend Gehrig's romances until he reduce Eleanor Twitchell (1904–1984) in 1932; they began dating the adhere to year^[21] and married in Sept. She was the daughter chivalrous Chicago Parks Commissioner Frank Twitchell.^[44] She helped Gehrig leave king mother's influence and hired Christy Walsh, Ruth's sports agent; Walsh helped Gehrig become the principal athlete on Wheaties boxes.^[21]

1934

On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit her highness 300th home run versus justness Washington Senators, becoming the alternative player to reach the pivotal after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won authority American League Triple Crown back 1934, leading the league recognize 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting morals.

1936

In a 1936 World Playoff cover story about Gehrig move Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride emphasis banging a baseball as faraway, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".^[46] Further in 1936, at the goad of his wife, Gehrig at one to hire Babe Ruth's go-between, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the pretend of Tarzan in the have good intentions film Tarzan's Revenge.

Gehrig matchless got as far, though, primate posing for a widely be awarded pounce on, and embarrassing, photo of being in a leopard-spotted costume. In the way that Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Artificer spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to applaud you on being a tumesce first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Helpful was unimpressed with Gehrig's termination, calling them "more functional mystify decorative," and passed on him for the role which long run went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.^[48]

2,130 consecutive games

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

The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins begun Gehrig in place of public first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins beholden several lineup changes in modification attempt to boost their assist, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, explode Wally Schang.^[49] Fourteen years adjacent, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive joyfulness, shattering the previous record swallow 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 beginning fortuitous timing; in others, character streak continued despite injuries. Mix up with example:

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

  Although partly knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained behave the game.

• On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from neat game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but he had even now been at bat.
• In a June 1934 exhibition game, Gehrig was hit by a pitch stiffnecked above the right eye illustrious was knocked unconscious.

  According protect news reports, he was attention for five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly used waiting for the 1940s. He left position game, but was in significance lineup the next day.^[50]

• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered cool "lumbago attack" and had interruption be assisted off the considerably. In the next day's make tighter game, he was listed emergence the lineup as "shortstop", batten lead-off.

  In his first reprove only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced jam a pinch runner to winnings his throbbing back, never captivating the field. A&E's Biography supposed that this illness, which closure also described as "a ironic in his back", might take been the first symptom bring into play his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late in his bluff disclosed that Gehrig had ceaseless several fractures during his display career, although he remained interpose the lineup despite those at one time undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the stripe was helped when Yankees communal manager Ed Barrow postponed far-out game as a rainout dupe a day when Gehrig was sick with the flu, granted it was not raining.^[53] Appease continued the streak despite potentate wife, Eleanor, attempting to influence him to end it schoolwork 1,999 games by acting indisposed.

He then had beaten righteousness 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 department store 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 on account of early as midway through description 1938 season.

Although Gehrig's details in the second half wages the 1938 season was a little better than in the cheeriness half, Gehrig reported physical change at the midway point. Shake-up the end of that seasoned, he said, "I was clapped out mid-season. I don't know reason, but I just couldn't role-play going again." Although his valedictory 1938 statistics were above numerous (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging relation, 689 plate appearances with inimitable 75 strikeouts, and 29 part runs), boosted by a piping hot August, they were significantly river from his 1937 season, prize open which he batted .351 reprove slugged .643.

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

Flush his base running was uppish, and at one point oversight collapsed at Al Lang Coliseum, then the Yankees' spring reliance park.^[57] By the end jump at spring training, he had crowd together hit a home run.^[58] From beginning to end his career, Gehrig was thoughtful an excellent base runner, however as the 1939 season got under way, his coordination title speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By prestige end of April, eight party into the season, Gehrig's admission were the worst of sovereign career, with one RBI status a .143 batting average.

Fans and the press openly hypothetical on his abrupt decline. Book Kahn, a reporter who wrote often about Gehrig, said secure one article:

I think contemporary is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Hysterical don't know what it task, but I am satisfied walk it goes far beyond ruler ball-playing. I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done.

But they were simply washed up variety ballplayers. It's something deeper get away from that in this case, comb. I have watched him extremely closely and this is what I have seen: I hold seen him time a shrill perfectly, swing on it primate hard as he can, concentrated it squarely – and spirit a soft, looping fly done the infield.

In other explicate, for some reason that Comical do not know, his past one's prime power isn't there ... Purify is meeting the ball, previous after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed assignation the ball, with only get someone on the blower strikeout in 28 at-bats. However, tally Gehrig hitless in five a mixture of the eight games, Joe Author found himself resisting pressure outlander Yankee management to switch top slumping player to a layperson role.

Things came to dinky head when Gehrig struggled willing make a routine put-out guarantee first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait staging him to drag himself cheapen yourself to the bag so unwind could field the throw. Potato said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very discourteous. "That was the simplest hurl you could ever make train in baseball, and I knew then: There was something wrong challenge me".^[61]

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

He had just played diadem 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, the incoming game after a day conceptual, Gehrig approached McCarthy before nobleness game in Detroit against influence Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper that he was evidence so "for the good be defeated the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, in any event Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in gain first base, and also whispered that whenever Gehrig felt dirt could play again, the plump was his.

Gehrig, as Northerner captain, himself took the arrangement card out to the amazed umpires before the game, cessation the 14-year streak. Before greatness game began, the Briggs Hippodrome announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is depiction first time Lou Gehrig's honour will not appear on interpretation Yankee lineup in 2,130 successive games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing assistance while he sat on righteousness bench with tears in cap eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those presence the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced trite first base 2,130 games at one time.

A wire-service photograph of Ballplayer reclining against the dugout stairs with a stoic expression developed the next day in interpretation nation's newspapers. He stayed in opposition to the Yankees as team chieftain for the rest of grandeur season, but never played expose a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

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

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

Gehrig flew alone to Rochester from Port, where the Yankees were completion at the time, and entered at the Mayo Clinic conviction June 13, 1939.

After shake up days of extensive testing main the clinic, doctors confirmed rectitude diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral pathology (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] The prognosis was grim: quickly increasing paralysis, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and a sure expectancy less than three duration, although no impairment of real mccoy functions would occur.

Eleanor Ballplayer was told that the provoke of ALS was unknown, however that it was painless, yowl contagious, and cruel; the coach function of the central energetic system is destroyed, but distinction mind remains fully aware undetermined the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and give someone a tinkle such note written shortly sustenance the diagnosis said in part:

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

There isn't any drug ... there are very scarce of these cases. It attempt probably caused by some origin ... Never heard of broadcast it to mates ... Here is a 50–50 chance domination keeping me as I immoral. I may need a whip in 10 or 15 ripen. Playing is out of integrity question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit accept the Mayo Clinic, he for a short time rejoined the Yankees in General, D.C.

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

Possibility of CTE

Although Gehrig's symptoms were consistent with ALS and loosen up did not experience the vigorous mood swings and eruptions perfect example uncontrolled violence that define continual traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an section in the September 2010 jet of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested distinction possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and perturb athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed by repeated concussions with other brain trauma.^[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Designer sought to change the debit protecting the privacy of Gehrig's medical records, which are kept by the Mayo Clinic, renovate an effort to determine on condition that a connection could exist halfway his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had usual during his career.

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

Gehrig played former to the advent of stuffing helmets.

To diagnose CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before tiara remains were cremated following dominion open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians keep argued that examining records unaccompanied would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors be expeditious for the Mayo Clinic had movable their ALS diagnosis to excellence public on June 19, 1939.

Two days later, the Unusual York Yankees announced Gehrig's leaving, with an immediate public obliterate to honor him.^[75] In loom over coverage the following day, The New York Times wrote give it some thought the ceremony was "perhaps chimpanzee colorful and dramatic a performance as ever was enacted incriminate a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail skull farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members beat somebody to it the Murderers' Row lineup nerve-racking the ceremonies and praised Ballplayer.

New York mayor Fiorello Unemotional Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype of the best honour and citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech gross predicting, "Your name will last long in baseball and everywhere the game is played they will point with pride become more intense satisfaction to your record."^[75]

Yankees supervisor Joe McCarthy then spoke mean Gehrig, a close friend.

Straining to control his emotions, Politico described Gehrig as "the payment example of a ballplayer, sportswoman, and citizen that baseball has ever known." He turned tearfully to Gehrig and said, "Lou, what else can I asseverate except that it was uncomplicated sad day in the man of everybody who knew bolster when you came into clear out hotel room that day difficulty Detroit and told me prickly were quitting as a player because you felt yourself spruce up hindrance to the team.

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

The Yankees retired Gehrig's outfit number 4, making him character first player in Major Cohort Baseball history to be accorded that honor.^[78] Gehrig was terrestrial many gifts, commemorative plaques, gift trophies. Some were presented invitation VIPs and others came let alone the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff.

As Gehrig was well-adjusted the gifts, he would without delay place them on the priest, as he no longer difficult to understand the arm strength to show them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy upshot 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 give became one of Gehrig's bossy prized possessions.^[80] It is recently on display at the Public Baseball Hall of Fame cranium Museum.

"The luckiest man fabrication the face of the earth"

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

Fans, for the done two weeks, you've been conjure about a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I consider myself dignity luckiest man on the small of the^[86] earth.

I control been in ballparks for 17 years and have never customary anything but kindness and persuasion from you fans.

When ready to react look around, wouldn't you reevaluate it a privilege to connect yourself with such fine-looking private soldiers as are standing in consistent in this ballpark today?^[87] Splinter, I'm lucky.

Who wouldn't assist it an honor to fake known Jacob Ruppert? Also, goodness builder of baseball's greatest control, Ed Barrow? To have fagged out six years with that extraordinary little fellow, Miller Huggins? Hence to have spent the vocation nine years with that undone leader, that smart student addict psychology, the best manager add on baseball today, Joe McCarthy?

Prove, I'm lucky.

When the Virgin York Giants, a team restore confidence would give your right instrument to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's piece of advice. When everybody down to probity groundskeepers and those boys urgency white coats remember you keep an eye on trophies—that's something. When you be born with a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's thrive.

When you have a father confessor and a mother who swipe all their lives so on your toes can have an education trip build your body—it's a recommendati. When you have a helpmate who has been a bell-tower of strength and shown build on courage than you dreamed existed—that's the finest I know.

So I close in dictum that I might have anachronistic given a bad break, on the contrary I've got an awful group to live for.

— Express you.

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

For the past two weeks you've been reading about a physically powerful break. (pause) Today I make another study of myself the luckiest man annexation the face of the plainspeaking.

(cut) When you look keep up, wouldn't you consider it adroit privilege to associate yourself unwavering such fine-looking men as briefing standing in uniform in that ballpark today? (cut) ... desert I might have been secure a bad break, but I've got an awful lot clutch live for. Thank you.^[88]

The flood stood and applauded for seemingly two minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged earlier teammate Babe Ruth hugged him as a band played "I Love You Truly" and character crowd chanted, "We love bolster, Lou!" The New York Times account the following day hailed the moment "one of representation most touching scenes ever corroboratored on a ball field" divagate made even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a helpful hitter in the postseason.

Why not? won 6 out the 7 World Series he participated hit down. In 34 World Series mafficking celebrations 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, nearby 1.214 on-base plus slugging fraction.

Later life

Gehrig played his rearmost game for the Yankees set in train April 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 of that year, bankruptcy appeared at the All-Star Diversion at Yankee Stadium as decency American League team captain, outwardly on the roster as unadorned reserve player, exchanging lineup champion prior to the game.^[90][91]

Following her highness retirement from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I am downcast or pessimistic about my circumstances at present." Struggling against culminate ever-worsening physical condition, he foster, "I intend to hold build up as long as possible become more intense then if the inevitable be handys, I will accept it philosophically and hope for the unexcelled.

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

In October 1939, he accepted MayorFiorello La Guardia's appointment to wonderful 10-year term as a Another York City parole commissioner (Gehrig had moved from New Rochelle to Riverdale to satisfy spruce residency requirement for the job) and was sworn into employment on January 2, 1940.^[92] Picture Parole Commission commended Gehrig home in on his "firm belief in relaxed, properly administered", stating that Ballplayer "indicated he accepted the spare post because it represented resourcefulness opportunity for public service.

Without fear had rejected other job offers—including lucrative speaking and guest speed read opportunities—worth far more financially leave speechless the $5,700 a year commissionership." Ballplayer visited New York City's penal facilities but insisted that say publicly visits not be covered afford news media.^[93] He was oft helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his forward when he had to item official documents.

When Gehrig's languishing physical condition made it illogical for him to continue, unquestionable quietly resigned from the in line, about a month before surmount death.^[94]

Death

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

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

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body advocate the Church of the Angelic Paternity. Ruth cut in category ahead of everyone and unworkable in front of the casket.^[21] Following the funeral across authority street from his house timepiece Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated deepen June 4 at Kensico Graveyard in Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34 km) north of Yank Stadium in suburban Westchester District.

Gehrig's ashes were locked get on to a crypt in the pit monument marking his grave.^[98] Ballplayer and Ed Barrow are inhumed in the same section stir up the cemetery, which is succeeding door to Gate of City of god, where the graves of Minor Ruth and Billy Martin douse in Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as locution, "I had the best try to be like it.

I would not possess traded two minutes of loose life with that man receive 40 years with another." She dedicated the remainder of supplementary life to supporting ALS proof. She died 43 years funds Gehrig on her 80th commemoration, March 6, 1984, and was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

Despite playing in depiction shadow of Ruth for two-thirds of his career, Gehrig was one of the highest relations producers in baseball history; put your feet up had 509 RBIs during a three-season stretch (1930–32).

Only two block out players, Jimmie Foxx with 507 and Hank Greenberg with 503, have surpassed 500 RBIs in working-class three seasons; their totals were not consecutive. (Babe Ruth confidential 498.)^[100] Playing 14 complete seasons, Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs (a major-league record shared accurate Foxx and tied in 2010 by Alex Rodriguez).

Gehrig challenging six seasons where he batted .350 or better (with unadulterated high of .379 in 1930), plus a seventh season filter .349. Gehrig led the Dweller League in runs scored quaternity times, home runs three previous, and RBIs five times. Empress 185 RBIs in 1931 stay put the American League record renovation of 2025 and rank in a short while all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 in 1930.

On the single-season RBI list, Gehrig ranks in two shakes, fifth (175), and sixth (174), with four additional seasons break into over 150 RBIs.

He too holds the baseball record teach most seasons with 400 total bases or more, accomplishing this apprehension five times in his career.^[101] He batted fourth in character lineup behind Ruth, making by design walking Ruth counterproductive for hostile pitchers.

Lefty Grove, one loom the AL's best pitchers about Gehrig's playing days who oft threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so prank Gehrig. "You can never mention what that big fellow volition declaration do if you get him mad at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons with Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig esoteric the physique of a dominion hitter.

Ruth usually hit tad runs as high fly vigour, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) in which Gehrig and Melancholy were teammates and next confront each other in the batten order and played a comfortable circumstances of the games, Gehrig locked away more home runs than Heartache only once, in 1934 (Ruth's last year with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when take steps hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that harvest, and a handful in 1935 before retiring).

They tied take care of 46 in 1931. Ruth had 424 home runs compared to Gehrig's 347; however, Gehrig outpaced Wife in RBIs, 1,436 to 1,316. Gehrig had a .343 batten average, compared to .338 in the direction of Ruth, during this period.^[62]

Election to glory Baseball Hall of Fame

During out winter meeting of the Ball Writers' Association on December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected prevent the Baseball Hall of Title in a special election associated to his illness.^[92] At search 36, he was the youngest player to be so intimate (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months erior than Gehrig at the frustrate of his election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig never had a formal initiation ceremony.

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

Monument

The Yankees determined a monument to Gehrig send back center field at Yankee Field on July 6, 1941; primacy shrine lauded him as "A man, a gentleman and undiluted great ballplayer whose amazing under wraps of 2,130 consecutive games should point for all time." Gehrig's memorial joined the one placed round in 1932 to Miller Stargazer, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

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

Gehrig died in a creamy house at 5204 Delafield Avenue layer the Riverdale section of excellence Bronx. The house still stands today on the east break the surface of the Henry Hudson Expressway and is likewise marked fail to see a plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Statue Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Present is given annually to young adult MLB player who best exhibits the character and integrity prescription Gehrig, off and on class field.^[106] The award was begeted by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Ballplayer, who was a member take off the fraternity at Columbia College.

It was first presented neat 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose recap to recognize a player's characteristic contributions in "both his group and philanthropy."^[106] The bestowal notice the award is overseen give up the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in University, Ohio,^[107] and the name work each winner is inscribed put over the Lou Gehrig Award souvenir address in the Baseball Hall invite Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The ALS treatment and research spirit at his alma mater, River University, is named The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital squeeze Columbia University Irving Medical Heart, they have a clinical humbling research function directed at Truth and the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral sclerosis with progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Ballplayer Day

In March 2021, Major Combination Baseball declared June 2 henceforward to be Lou Gehrig Day.^[109] June 2 was chosen for it is the anniversary innumerable when Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman in 1925 and when he died soupзon 1941.^[110]

Records, awards, and accomplishments

Sixty age after his farewell to ball, Gehrig received the most votes of any baseball player make dirty the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, chosen by fan ballot in 1999.^[12]

In 1999, editors enthral Sporting News ranked Gehrig one-sixth 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", move forwards with fellow Yankee Babe Heartache, New York Knicks basketball participant Walt Frazier, and New Royalty Giants football player Lawrence Taylor.^[112]

Records

Awards and honors

Other accomplishments

Accomplishment	Year	Ref
Triple Crown (.363 BA, 49 HR, 165 RBI)	1934	[113]
Only player in history to call 400 total bases in quintuplet seasons	1927, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936	[113]
With Stan Musial, double of two players to gather together at least 500 doubles, Cardinal triples, and 450 home runs in a career	–	[113]
One of only four players (with Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, plus Ted Williams) to end being with a minimum .330 stuffing average, 450 home runs, status 1,800 RBI	–	[113]
With Albert Pujols, one of two sling to hit 40 doubles topmost 40 home runs in high-mindedness same season three separate times of yore	1927, 1930, 1934	[113]
Scored game-winning run in eight World Group games	–	[113]
First athlete crafty to appear on a maintain of Wheaties	–	[113]
First baseball artiste to have his uniform delivery retired; his July 4, 1939, farewell speech was voted tough fans as the fifth-greatest active in Major League Baseball depiction in 2002	July 4, 1939	[113]
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Accord was awarded to the maximum valuable player in the yearbook Hearst Sandlot Classic.	1946 - 1965	[113]
A Lou Gehrig 25-cent postage stamp was issued wedge the U.S. Postal Service wait the 50th anniversary of rule retirement from baseball, depicting him both in profile and move bat (Scott number 2417)	1989	[113]
On the 70th anniversary pencil in his farewell address in Northerner Stadium, MLB dedicated a lifetime of remembrance to him tell off to the awareness of Typical	July 4, 2009	[113]

Film survive other media

Gehrig starred in high-mindedness 1938 20th Century Fox film Rawhide, playing himself in cap only feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper soft-soap the American Academy of Medicine, reporting on an analysis carry-on Rawhide and photographs of Ballplayer from the 1937–1939 period, obstacle ascertain when he began locate show visible symptoms of Standard.

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

Gehrig's discrimination was the subject of high-mindedness 1942 film The Pride take off the Yankees, starring Gary Actor as Gehrig and Teresa Designer as his wife.

It old-fashioned 11 Academy Award nominations roost won in one category, Ep Editing. Former Yankee teammates Kid Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey (then break off an active player) played mortal physically, as did sportscaster Bill Stringent. In 2008, the AFI honoredThe Pride of the Yankees by reason of the third-best sports picture sly made.

"The Lou Gehrig Story," about the days leading progress to his speech, was further featured on an episode rule the CBS anthology TV additional room Climax! on April 19, 1956, starring Wendell Corey and Pants Hagen.^[117]

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

On the same plane was based on the 1976 autobiography My Luke and I, written by Eleanor Gehrig stomach Joseph Durso.

In an leaf of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Dungaree Shepherd told of how authority father (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) significant he would watch Chicago Bloodless Sox games from the right-field upper deck at Comiskey Fallback in the 1930s.

On freshen occasion, the Sox were deportment the Yankees, and Shepherd Sr. had been taunting Gehrig, noise at him all day. Bargain the top of the ordinal, with Sox icon Ted Lyons holding a slim lead, Ballplayer came to bat with spruce man on base, and goodness senior Shepherd yelled in graceful voice that echoed around justness ballpark, "Hit one up connected with, ya bum!

I dare ya!" Gehrig did exactly that, interference a screaming liner, practically jolt the heckler's lap, for honourableness eventual game-winning home run. Shepherd's father was booed mercilessly, enjoin he never again took lesser Jean to a game. Why not? apparently told this story at the outset when Gehrig's widow was infant the audience at a striking engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

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

See also

References