Lou gehrig biography movie on marilyn monroe

American baseball player (1903–1941)

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

Baseball player

Lou Gehrig
Gehrig catch the New York Yankees export 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 bully 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 king (1931, 1934, 1936) 5× AL Tally leader (1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934) Hit 4 home runs put in 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 gorilla Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was effect American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Bigger League Baseball (MLB) for excellence New York Yankees (1923–1939).

Ballplayer was renowned for his dexterousness as a hitter and manner his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded translation one of the greatest ball players of all time. Let go was an All-Star seven sequential times,^[2] a Triple Crown advocate once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] captain a member of six Field Serieschampion teams.

He had pure 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 nominate to hit four home runs in a single game. Wealthy 1939, Gehrig was elected e-mail 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 Realization and a student at River University, Gehrig signed with magnanimity Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league registers during his career,^[5] including illustriousness most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and most consecutive games hollow (2,130), a record that explicit for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until set up was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.

in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's ordered game streak ended on Can 2, 1939, when he quickly took himself out of say publicly lineup, stunning both players discipline fans, after his performance school in the field had become fraught by an undiagnosed ailment; residence was subsequently confirmed to produce amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), untainted incurable neuromuscular illness now normally referred to in the Banded together States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and give up work in early 1939 at submission 36.

On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Fellow on the Face of say publicly Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Colosseum. Two years later, Gehrig in a good way of complications from ALS. Unimportant person 1969, the Baseball Writers' Fold of America voted Gehrig honourableness greatest first baseman of yell time,^[11] and he was goodness leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.^[12] A monument coop up Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated vulgar the Yankees in 1941, presently resides in Monument Park claim the new Yankee Stadium.

Rank Lou Gehrig Memorial Award legal action given annually to the MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and character.

Early life

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

He was loftiness second of four children faux German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was born add on 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, great province of pre-World War Funny Germany, near the Denmark–Germany adjoin.

She emigrated to the Common States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born mend 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, unthinkable came to the United States in October 1888. He at the outset spent some time in Metropolis, but later settled in Fresh York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years one-time than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran.

They joined in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by back up who was frequently unemployed fitting to alcoholism and epilepsy, prep added to his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and taskmaster in the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one of position four siblings to live earlier childhood.

His two sisters convulsion at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a relation also died in infancy.^[18] Make the first move a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, involvement tasks such as folding washing and picking up supplies use up the local stores.^[19] Gehrig crosspiece German during his childhood,^[20] crowd learning English until the sketch of five.^[21] In 1910 noteworthy lived with his parents reassure 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in Pedagogue Heights.^[22] In 1920, the descent resided at 2079 8th Route in Manhattan.^[23] He was renowned as "Lou" so he would not be confused with rulership identically named father, who was also known as Henry.^[24]

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

His New York School suggest Commerce team was playing tidy local team from Lane School High School in front custom a crowd of more prior to 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team trustworthy 8–6 in the top portend the ninth inning, Gehrig beat a grand slam completely incursion of the major league woodland, which was an unheard-of enquiry for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

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

College career

He then studied ruse at Columbia University for combine years, finding the schoolwork laborious before leaving to pursue great career in professional baseball.^[29] Illegal had been recruited to chapter football at the school, request a scholarship there,^[21] later bordering the baseball squad.

Before wreath first semester began, New Dynasty Giants manager John McGraw discover him to play summer seasoned baseball under an assumed fame, Henry Lewis, despite the actuality that it could jeopardize top collegiate sports eligibility. After let go played a dozen games instruct the Hartford Senators in prestige Eastern League, he was determined and banned from collegiate actions his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate athleticss as a fullback for blue blood the gentry Columbia Lions football program.

Succeeding, in 1923, he played regulate base and pitched for class Columbia baseball team.^[30] At River, he was a member decay the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the exact day Yankee Stadium opened funding the first time and Minor Ruth inaugurated the new hippodrome with a home run antithetical the Boston Red Sox, River pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to congregation a team record, though Town lost the game.

Only copperplate handful of collegians were tolerate Columbia's South Field that generation, but more significant was integrity presence of Yankee scout Unpleasant Krichell, who had been pursuit Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's pitching did not particularly imprint him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting. Krichell practical Gehrig hit some of rendering longest home runs ever avoid on various eastern campuses, as well as a 450-foot (137 m) home scurry on April 28 at Southward Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts aphorism Gehrig as "the next Infant Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

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

Except entertain his games with Hartford, keen two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire sport life—sandlot, high school, college remarkable professional—with teams based in Novel York City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

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

In his first duo seasons, he was mired end Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp rib first base, a two-time Day-glow home run champion and of a nature of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, chiefly as a pinch hitter, scene in only 23 games and make available left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in vindictiveness of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 clod 1924).

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

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted plant player so he played prime base, often the position fund a strong hitter but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's jailbreak 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] Put into operation the 1926 World Series dispute the St.

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

1927

In 1927, Gehrig contravene together one of the matchless seasons by any batter underneath 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 fabrication helped the 1927 Yankees round on a 110–44 record, the Stormy pennant (by 19 games), person in charge a four-game sweep of description Pittsburgh Pirates in the Field Series.

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

1929

In 1929, the New-found York Yankees debuted wearing statistics on their uniforms.^[39] Gehrig wore number 4 because he knock behind Babe Ruth, who batted third in the lineup.^[40]

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became the first contestant in the 20th century add up hit four home runs detect a game, accomplishing the unease on June 3 against description Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed hitting a-okay fifth home run when Recreation center fielder Al Simmons finished a leaping catch of alternate fly ball at the center-field fence.

Following the game, administrator Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take nowadays away from you." On rendering same day, however, John Handler announced his retirement after 30 years of managing the Contemporary York Giants, so McGraw, remote Gehrig, got the main headlines in the city's sports sections the next day.^[42] Gehrig's connect home run game was single the third in major corresponding item history to that point, essential the first since Ed Delahanty did it in 1896.

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig troubled in his 1,308th consecutive affair against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which flat broke the longest consecutive games-played lode, held by Everett Scott. General attended as a guest illustrate the Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived toy his parents until 1933, what because he was 30 years age.

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

1934

On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit king 300th home run versus representation Washington Senators, becoming the erelong player to reach the watershed after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won primacy American League Triple Crown epoxy resin 1934, leading the league capable 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting recurrent.

1936

In a 1936 World Heap cover story about Gehrig add-on Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride house banging a baseball as faraway, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".^[46] Too in 1936, at the incentive of his wife, Gehrig congealed to hire Babe Ruth's detective, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the parcel of Tarzan in the isolated film Tarzan's Revenge.

Gehrig single got as far, though, whereas posing for a widely encounter, and embarrassing, photo of personally in a leopard-spotted costume. In the way that Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Inventor spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to 1 you on being a balloon first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Assistant was unimpressed with Gehrig's honourable, calling them "more functional outshine decorative," and passed on him for the role which finally 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 plan shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger.

The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins begun Gehrig in place of general first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins troublefree several lineup changes in scheme attempt to boost their celebration, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, near Wally Schang.^[49] Fourteen years consequent, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive jubilation, shattering the previous record confiscate 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 stripe dash intact through pinch-hitting appearances dispatch fortuitous timing; in others, loftiness streak continued despite injuries.

Help out example:

• On April 23, 1933, a pitch by Washington Senators pitcher Earl Whitehill struck Ballplayer in the head. Although seemingly knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained welloff the game.
• On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from spruce up game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but he had at present been at bat.
• In a June 1934 exhibition game, Gehrig was hit by a pitch conclusive above the right eye extract was knocked unconscious.

  According find time for news reports, he was give it a go for five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly used up in the air the 1940s. He left righteousness game, but was in greatness lineup the next day.^[50]

• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered exceptional "lumbago attack" and had pick on be assisted off the greatly.

  In the next day's great game, he was listed come out of the lineup as "shortstop", stuffing lead-off. In his first playing field only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced strong a pinch runner to dismiss his throbbing back, never beguiling the field. A&E's Biography imagined that this illness, which illegal also described as "a hibernal in his back", might be blessed with been the first symptom adequate his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late in his sentience disclosed that Gehrig had prolonged several fractures during his effectuation career, although he remained speedy the lineup despite those in advance undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the current was helped when Yankees popular manager Ed Barrow postponed dexterous game as a rainout be anxious a day when Gehrig was sick with the flu, even though it was not raining.^[53] Misstep continued the streak despite wife, Eleanor, attempting to prevail upon him to end it balanced 1,999 games by acting carsick.

He then had beaten influence 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 expansion 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 translation early as midway through righteousness 1938 season.

Although Gehrig's operation in the second half preceding the 1938 season was a little better than in the lid half, Gehrig reported physical swing at the midway point. Go off the end of that bout, he said, "I was weary mid-season. I don't know reason, but I just couldn't receive going again." Although his farewell 1938 statistics were above generally (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging arrangement, 689 plate appearances with sui generis incomparabl 75 strikeouts, and 29 dwelling runs), boosted by a disgorge August, they were significantly unconvincing from his 1937 season, speak which he batted .351 celebrated slugged .643.

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

Unchanging his base running was unfilled, and at one point powder collapsed at Al Lang Hippodrome, then the Yankees' spring knowledge park.^[57] By the end promote to spring training, he had shout hit a home run.^[58] From end to end his career, Gehrig was reasoned an excellent base runner, nevertheless as the 1939 season got under way, his coordination elitist speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By goodness end of April, eight merrymaking into the season, Gehrig's materials were the worst of coronet career, with one RBI esoteric a .143 batting average.

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

I think in attendance is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Uncontrollable don't know what it not bad, but I am satisfied focus it goes far beyond tiara ball-playing.

I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done. But they were simply washed up thanks to ballplayers. It's something deeper more willingly than that in this case, in spite of. I have watched him unpick closely and this is what I have seen: I accept seen him time a sudden perfectly, swing on it style hard as he can, compact it squarely – and network a soft, looping fly look the other way the infield.

In other time, for some reason that Frantic do not know, his aged power isn't there ... Significant is meeting the ball, every time after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed tryst the ball, with only attack strikeout in 28 at-bats. However, major Gehrig hitless in five second the eight games, Joe Pol found himself resisting pressure escape Yankee management to switch diadem slumping player to a abnormal role.

Things came to natty head when Gehrig struggled be against make a routine put-out afterwards first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait put on view him to drag himself unsettled to the bag so illegal could field the throw. Tater said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very jocular.

"That was the simplest throw you could ever make decline baseball, and I knew then: There was something wrong shrivel me".^[61]

On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against the Washington Senators. He had just played potentate 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, the go by game after a day cleft, Gehrig approached McCarthy before distinction game in Detroit against decency Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper that he was experience so "for the good staff the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, though Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in smack of first base, and also spoken that whenever Gehrig felt grace could play again, the stub was his.

Gehrig, as Northerner captain, himself took the roll card out to the confused umpires before the game, morpheme the 14-year streak. Before honourableness game began, the Briggs Hippodrome announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is greatness first time Lou Gehrig's label will not appear on distinction Yankee lineup in 2,130 successive games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing yield while he sat on class bench with tears in empress eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those gate the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced rest first base 2,130 games before.

A wire-service photograph of Ballplayer reclining against the dugout ranking with a stoic expression arised the next day in righteousness nation's newspapers. He stayed nervousness the Yankees as team headwaiter for the rest of primacy season, but never played place in a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

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

Turn one\'s back on call was transferred to River William Mayo, who had antiquated following Gehrig's career and emperor mysterious loss of strength. Dressing told Eleanor to bring Ballplayer as soon as possible.^[56]

Gehrig flew alone to Rochester from Port, where the Yankees were engagement at the time, and disembarked at the Mayo Clinic completely June 13, 1939.

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

Eleanor Ballplayer was told that the driving force of ALS was unknown, on the other hand that it was painless, battle-cry contagious, and cruel; the efferent function of the central neurotic system is destroyed, but rectitude mind remains fully aware awaiting the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and twofold such note written shortly aft the diagnosis said in part:

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

There isn't any surgery ... there are very hardly of these cases. It court case probably caused by some microbe ... Never heard of carrying it to mates ... Prevalent is a 50–50 chance gaze at keeping me as I education. I may need a birch in 10 or 15 age. Playing is out of decency question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit terminate the Mayo Clinic, he for the time being rejoined the Yankees in Educator, D.C.

As his train pulled into Union Station, he was greeted by a group cosy up Boy Scouts happily waving last wishing him luck. Gehrig waved back, but he leaned exhort 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 forbidden did not experience the native mood swings and eruptions pray to uncontrolled violence that define continuing traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an entity in the September 2010 subject of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested nobleness possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and perturb athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed by repeated concussions spell other brain trauma.^[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Architect sought to change the carefulness protecting the privacy of Gehrig's medical records, which are engaged by the Mayo Clinic, acquit yourself an effort to determine conj admitting a connection could exist betwixt his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had conventional during his career.

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

Gehrig played ex to the advent of batten helmets. To diagnose CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before dominion remains were cremated following surmount open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians possess argued that examining records get out of would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors ensnare the Mayo Clinic had out their ALS diagnosis to primacy public on June 19, 1939.

Two days later, the Different York Yankees announced Gehrig's withdrawal, with an immediate public extra to honor him.^[75] In academic coverage the following day, The New York Times wrote zigzag the ceremony was "perhaps introduction colorful and dramatic a spectacle as ever was enacted citation a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail become calm farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members all but the Murderers' Row lineup falsified the ceremonies and praised Ballplayer.

New York mayor Fiorello Influenza Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype of the best honourableness and citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech building block predicting, "Your name will stand for long in baseball and where the game is played they will point with pride famous satisfaction to your record."^[75]

Yankees overseer Joe McCarthy then spoke befit Gehrig, a close friend.

Straining to control his emotions, Writer described Gehrig as "the first-rate example of a ballplayer, team member actor, and citizen that baseball has ever known." He turned tearfully to Gehrig and said, "Lou, what else can I self-control except that it was nifty sad day in the man of everybody who knew complete when you came into clean up hotel room that day cut down Detroit and told me pointed were quitting as a participant because you felt yourself excellent hindrance to the team.

Ill-defined God, man, you were under no circumstances that."^[77]

The Yankees retired Gehrig's unchanged number 4, making him distinction first player in Major Corresponding item Baseball history to be accorded that honor.^[78] Gehrig was vulnerable alive to many gifts, commemorative plaques, brook trophies.

Some were presented uncongenial VIPs and others came chomp through the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff. As Gehrig was bimanual the gifts, he would right away place them on the prominence, as he no longer esoteric the arm strength to fascinate them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy feature 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 awarding became one of Gehrig's summit prized possessions.^[80] It is recently on display at the Steady Baseball Hall of Fame person in charge Museum.

"The luckiest man dispatch the face of the earth"

On July 4, 1939, Ballplayer delivered what has been hailed "baseball's Gettysburg Address" to skilful sold-out crowd at Yankee Hippodrome in between a doubleheader be against the Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having in all cases avoided public attention, Gehrig exact not want to speak, on the contrary the crowd chanted for him and he had memorized low down sentences beforehand.^[21]

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

I plot been in ballparks for 17 years and have never ordinary anything but kindness and jogging from you fans.

When cheer up look around, wouldn't you hold it a privilege to colleague yourself with such fine-looking other ranks as are standing in unchanged in this ballpark today?^[87] Fill, I'm lucky.

Who wouldn't make another study of it an honor to take known Jacob Ruppert? Also, prestige builder of baseball's greatest dominion, Ed Barrow? To have exhausted six years with that awesome little fellow, Miller Huggins? Commit fraud to have spent the press forward nine years with that unattended to leader, that smart student find time for psychology, the best manager sieve baseball today, Joe McCarthy?

Mull it over, I'm lucky.

When the Newborn York Giants, a team command would give your right component to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's consideration. When everybody down to high-mindedness groundskeepers and those boys monitor white coats remember you mess up trophies—that's something. When you keep a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's objective.

When you have a priest and a mother who business all their lives so complete can have an education squeeze build your body—it's a boon. When you have a better half who has been a campanile of strength and shown advanced courage than you dreamed existed—that's the finest I know.

So I close in adage that I might have archaic given a bad break, nevertheless I've got an awful map to live for.

— Offer you.

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

For the past two weeks you've been reading about a poor break. (pause) Today I suspect myself the luckiest man planning the face of the existence.

(cut) When you look travel, wouldn't you consider it calligraphic privilege to associate yourself elegant such fine-looking men as dangle standing in uniform in that ballpark today? (cut) ... digress I might have been problem a bad break, but I've got an awful lot object to live for. Thank you.^[88]

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

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a plentiful hitter in the postseason.

Blooper won 6 out the 7 World Series he participated control. In 34 World Series merriment over 7 World Series (1926,'27,'28,'32,'36,'37, and '38) he batted .361 (43-for-119) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 26 walks, .483 on-base percentage, .731 slugging percentage, abide 1.214 on-base plus slugging correspondence.

Later life

Gehrig played his final game for the Yankees put in jail April 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 of that year, purify appeared at the All-Star Affair at Yankee Stadium as say publicly American League team captain, on the record on the roster as clever reserve player, exchanging lineup game prior to the game.^[90][91]

Following enthrone retirement from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I am downcast or pessimistic about my context at present." Struggling against empress ever-worsening physical condition, he another, "I intend to hold refining as long as possible build up then if the inevitable be accessibles, I will accept it philosophically and hope for the unlimited.

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

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

Recognized had rejected other job offers—including lucrative speaking and guest have an effect on opportunities—worth far more financially fondle the $5,700 a year commissionership." Ballplayer visited New York City's punitive facilities but insisted that significance visits not be covered via news media.^[93] He was commonly helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his contend with when he had to agree official documents.

When Gehrig's sinking physical condition made it unthinkable for him to continue, noteworthy quietly resigned from the flap, about a month before her highness death.^[94]

Death

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

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

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body pleasing the Church of the Doctrinal Paternity. Ruth cut in uncompromising ahead of everyone and unfeasible in front of the casket.^[21] Following the funeral across depiction street from his house fob watch Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated introduce June 4 at Kensico Charnel house in Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34 km) north of American Stadium in suburban Westchester Dependency.

Gehrig's ashes were locked jerk a crypt in the chunk monument marking his grave.^[98] Ballplayer and Ed Barrow are pushing up the daisies in the same section manage the cemetery, which is future door to Gate of Zion eden, where the graves of Infant Ruth and Billy Martin unwind in Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as speech, "I had the best hegemony it.

I would not take traded two minutes of furious life with that man rationalize 40 years with another." She dedicated the remainder of pretty up life to supporting ALS delving. She died 43 years end Gehrig on her 80th epicurean treat, March 6, 1984, and was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

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

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

Gehrig locked away six seasons where he batted .350 or better (with out high of .379 in 1930), plus a seventh season try to be like .349. Gehrig led the Inhabitant League in runs scored three times, home runs three era, and RBIs five times. Culminate 185 RBIs in 1931 be left the American League record pass for of 2025 and rank alternate all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 in 1930.

On the single-season RBI list, Gehrig ranks in a tick, fifth (175), and sixth (174), with four additional seasons mimic over 150 RBIs.

He as well holds the baseball record pay money for most seasons with 400 total bases or more, accomplishing this adventure five times in his career.^[101] He batted fourth in probity lineup behind Ruth, making advisedly walking Ruth counterproductive for combatant pitchers.

Lefty Grove, one decelerate the AL's best pitchers as Gehrig's playing days who oft threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so able Gehrig. "You can never scene what that big fellow inclination do if you get him mad at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons with Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig challenging the physique of a crush hitter.

Ruth usually hit residence runs as high fly activity, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) in which Gehrig and Distress were teammates and next give somebody the job of each other in the batten order and played a full bloom of the games, Gehrig confidential more home runs than Despondency only once, in 1934 (Ruth's last year with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when subside hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that best, and a handful in 1935 before retiring).

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

Election to say publicly Baseball Hall of Fame

During practised winter meeting of the Sport Writers' Association on December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected persist the Baseball Hall of Abomination in a special election associated to his illness.^[92] At impede 36, he was the youngest player to be so informal (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months lesser than Gehrig at the period of his election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig never had a formal stimulation ceremony.

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

Monument

The Yankees consecrate a monument to Gehrig all the rage center field at Yankee Colosseum on July 6, 1941; glory shrine lauded him as "A man, a gentleman and simple great ballplayer whose amazing epidemic of 2,130 consecutive games should experience for all time." Gehrig's cairn joined the one placed at hand in 1932 to Miller Uranologist, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

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

Gehrig died in a ashen house at 5204 Delafield Avenue guaranteed the Riverdale section of character Bronx. The house still stands today on the east macrobiotic of the Henry Hudson Thruway and is likewise marked in and out of a plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Monument Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Confer is given annually to comprise MLB player who best exhibits the character and integrity warm Gehrig, off and on loftiness field.^[106] The award was coined by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Ballplayer, who was a member come close to the fraternity at Columbia Installation.

It was first presented divide 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose even-handed to recognize a player's ethical contributions in "both his territory and philanthropy."^[106] The bestowal clone the award is overseen get by without the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in City, Ohio,^[107] and the name exempt each winner is inscribed around b be socially active the Lou Gehrig Award memorial in the Baseball Hall tip off Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The ALS treatment and research feelings at his alma mater, River University, is named The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital present-day Columbia University Irving Medical Affections, they have a clinical perch research function directed at Horses and the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral sclerosis remarkable progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Ballplayer Day

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

Records, awards, and accomplishments

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

In 1999, editors gift wrap Sporting News ranked Gehrig 6th on their list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".^[111] In 2022, as part of their SN Rushmore project, they also titled Gehrig on their "New Dynasty Mount Rushmore of Sports", ensue with fellow Yankee Babe Trouble, New York Knicks basketball athlete 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 bring together 400 total bases in cinque seasons	1927, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936	[113]
With Stan Musial, incontestable of two players to assemble at least 500 doubles, Cardinal triples, and 450 home runs in a career	–	[113]
One of only four players (with Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, become more intense Ted Williams) to end vitality with a minimum .330 batten average, 450 home runs, predominant 1,800 RBI	–	[113]
With Albert Pujols, one of two actresses to hit 40 doubles brook 40 home runs in goodness same season three separate era	1927, 1930, 1934	[113]
Scored game-winning run in eight World Pile games	–	[113]
First athlete crafty to appear on a take up again of Wheaties	–	[113]
First baseball artiste to have his uniform crowd retired; his July 4, 1939, farewell speech was voted jam fans as the fifth-greatest twinkling in Major League Baseball story in 2002	July 4, 1939	[113]
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Reward was awarded to the nigh valuable player in the annually Hearst Sandlot Classic.	1946 - 1965	[113]
A Lou Gehrig 25-cent postage stamp was issued by means of the U.S. Postal Service eagleeyed the 50th anniversary of sovereignty retirement from baseball, depicting him both in profile and watch bat (Scott number 2417)	1989	[113]
On the 70th anniversary describe his farewell address in American Stadium, MLB dedicated a weekend away of remembrance to him arm to the awareness of Bridal	July 4, 2009	[113]

Film significant other media

Gehrig starred in say publicly 1938 20th Century Fox Rawhide, playing himself in her highness only feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper forth the American Academy of Medicine, reporting on an analysis fence Rawhide and photographs of Ballplayer from the 1937–1939 period, evaluate ascertain when he began lock show visible symptoms of Records.

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

Gehrig's beast was the subject of high-mindedness 1942 film The Pride assiduousness the Yankees, starring Gary Journeyman as Gehrig and Teresa Designer as his wife.

It traditional 11 Academy Award nominations prosperous won in one category, Coating Editing. Former Yankee teammates Ankle-biter Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey (then motionless an active player) played person, as did sportscaster Bill Authoritarian. In 2008, the AFI honoredThe Pride of the Yankees despite the fact that the third-best sports picture devious made.

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

The 1978 TV movie A Love Affair: The Eleanor presentday Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann pass for Eleanor and Lou Gehrig.

Useless was based on the 1976 autobiography My Luke and I, written by Eleanor Gehrig suggest Joseph Durso.

In an period of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Pants Shepherd told of how authority father (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) have a word with he would watch Chicago Snowy Sox games from the right-field upper deck at Comiskey Stand-in in the 1930s.

On get someone on the blower occasion, the Sox were live the Yankees, and Shepherd Sr. had been taunting Gehrig, shouting at him all day. Interpolate the top of the 9th, with Sox icon Ted Lyons holding a slim lead, Ballplayer came to bat with swell man on base, and justness senior Shepherd yelled in dinky voice that echoed around authority ballpark, "Hit one up foundation, ya bum!

I dare ya!" Gehrig did exactly that, striking a screaming liner, practically befit the heckler's lap, for nobleness eventual game-winning home run. Shepherd's father was booed mercilessly, boss he never again took growing Jean to a game. No problem apparently told this story at or in the beginning when Gehrig's widow was retort the audience at a eloquent engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

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

See also

References