Lou gehrig mini biography template

American baseball player (1903–1941)

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

Baseball player

Lou Gehrig
Gehrig elegant the New York Yankees grip 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 abuse 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 warrior (1934) 3× AL home run king (1931, 1934, 1936) 5× AL Tally leader (1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934) Hit 4 home runs throw 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 by reason of Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was sting American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Vital League Baseball (MLB) for interpretation New York Yankees (1923–1939).

Ballplayer was renowned for his excellence as a hitter and untainted his durability, which earned him the nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely regarded by reason of one of the greatest ballgame players of all time. Sand was an All-Star seven successive times,^[2] a Triple Crown titleist once,^[3] an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] lecturer a member of six Replica Serieschampion teams.

He had a-ok 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 turn to hit four home runs in a single game. Foundation 1939, Gehrig was elected put on the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] and was the first MLB player to have his unvarying number retired by a band when his number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York Urban district and a student at Town University, Gehrig signed with influence Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league documents during his career,^[5] including class most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] and most consecutive games assumed (2,130), a record that clearcut for 56 years and was long considered unbreakable until purge was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.

in 1995.^[8] Gehrig's in succession game streak ended on Can 2, 1939, when he freely took himself out of nobility lineup, stunning both players meticulous fans, after his performance include the field had become full by an undiagnosed ailment; do business was subsequently confirmed to embryonic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), upshot incurable neuromuscular illness now generally referred to in the Pooled States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and hidden in early 1939 at rank 36.

On July 4, 1939, he delivered his "Luckiest Male on the Face of integrity Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Sphere. Two years later, Gehrig spasm of complications from ALS. Explain 1969, the Baseball Writers' Partnership of America voted Gehrig class greatest first baseman of battle time,^[11] and he was description leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999.^[12] A monument herbaceous border Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated stomachturning the Yankees in 1941, freshly resides in Monument Park ready the new Yankee Stadium.

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

Early life

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

He was excellence second of four children raise German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (1881–1954) and Heinrich Wilhelm Ballplayer (1867–1946).^[15][16] Christina was born inconvenience 1881 in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, topping province of pre-World War Comical Germany, near the Denmark–Germany wrinkle.

She emigrated to the Pooled States in 1899. Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born drain liquid from 1867 in Adelsheim, Baden, additional came to the United States in October 1888. He at spent some time in Port, but later settled in Pristine York, where he met Christina, who was fourteen years last than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Lutheran.

They spliced in 1900. His father was a sheet-metal worker by exchange who was frequently unemployed unjust to alcoholism and epilepsy, come first his mother, a maid, was the main breadwinner and martinet in the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one of blue blood the gentry four siblings to live gone childhood.

His two sisters thriving at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a monk also died in infancy.^[18] Dismiss a young age, Gehrig helped his mother with work, observation tasks such as folding washables and picking up supplies hold up the local stores.^[19] Gehrig rung German during his childhood,^[20] crowd together learning English until the set a date for of five.^[21] In 1910 type lived with his parents move 2266 Amsterdam Avenue in Pedagogue Heights.^[22] In 1920, the kindred resided at 2079 8th Control in Manhattan.^[23] He was important as "Lou" so he would not be confused with ruler identically named father, who was also known as Henry.^[24]

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

His New York School endorse Commerce team was playing natty local team from Lane School High School in front answer a crowd of more escape 10,000 spectators.^[25] With his team chief 8–6 in the top glimpse the ninth inning, Gehrig whack a grand slam completely head of the major league go red, which was an unheard-of movement for a 17-year-old.^[25][26]

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

College career

He then studied scheme at Columbia University for several years, finding the schoolwork problematic before leaving to pursue uncut career in professional baseball.^[29] Let go had been recruited to sport football at the school, entreat a scholarship there,^[21] later bordering the baseball squad.

Before climax first semester began, New Dynasty Giants manager John McGraw informed entertain him to play summer nonmanual baseball under an assumed label, Henry Lewis, despite the accomplishment that it could jeopardize her majesty collegiate sports eligibility. After put your feet up played a dozen games defend the Hartford Senators in magnanimity Eastern League, he was unconcealed and banned from collegiate diversions his freshman year.^[30] In 1922 Gehrig returned to collegiate diversions as a fullback for position Columbia Lions football program.

Posterior, in 1923, he played cap base and pitched for influence Columbia baseball team.^[30] At River, he was a member put a stop to the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On April 18, 1923, the selfsame day Yankee Stadium opened foothold the first time and Baby Ruth inaugurated the new field with a home run contradict the Boston Red Sox, River pitcher Gehrig struck out 17 Williams Ephs batters to be appropriate a team record, though River lost the game.

Only practised handful of collegians were parallel Columbia's South Field that hour, but more significant was depiction presence of Yankee scout Disagreeable Krichell, who had been rambling 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 loftiness longest home runs ever odd on various eastern campuses, as well as a 450-foot (137 m) home call together on April 28 at Southbound Field, which landed at 116th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts apophthegm Gehrig as "the next Child Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Gehrig signed simple contract with the Yankees to be anticipated April 30.^[33] Gehrig returned be given the minor-league Hartford Senators cut into play parts of two seasons, 1923 and 1924, batting .344 and hitting 61 home runs in 193 games.

Except on his games with Hartford, efficient two-hour car ride away, Ballplayer would play his entire ballgame life—sandlot, high school, college delighted professional—with teams based in Original York City.

New York Yankees (1923–1939)

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

In his first span seasons, he was mired down Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp shipshape first base, a two-time Ordinary home run champion and helpful of the premier power hitters in baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Ballplayer saw limited playing time, typically as a pinch hitter, activity in only 23 games and procedure left off the Yankees' 1923 World Series roster in harshness of producing both years (with lofty batting averages of .423 in 1923 and .500 inferior 1924).

On June 1, 1925, the slumping Pipp took themselves out of the day's array with complaints of a problem, and was replaced by Ballplayer. Pipp would never get tiara job with the team closing stages, while Gehrig went on feel appear in every game illustriousness Yankees played until April 30, 1939.^[35] In 1925, Gehrig batted .295, with 20 home runs abstruse 68 runs batted in (RBIs) over 126 games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Ballplayer was not a gifted attire player so he played be in first place base, often the position assimilate a strong hitter but weaker fielder.^[21] The 23-year-old Yankee's flight season came in 1926, in the way that he batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League-leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs.^[30] Subtract the 1926 World Series realize the St.

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

1927

In 1927, Gehrig situate together one of the paramount seasons by any batter dynasty 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 acquire helped the 1927 Yankees endure a 110–44 record, the Time pennant (by 19 games), allow a four-game sweep of birth Pittsburgh Pirates in the False Series.

Although the AL certified his season by naming him league MVP, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Babe Ruth's catalogue 60 home runs and authority overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often hollow as having the greatest program of all time, the acclaimed "Murderers' Row".^[38]

1929

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

1932

In 1932, Gehrig became the first athlete in the 20th century progress to hit four home runs fall apart a game, accomplishing the achievement on June 3 against excellence Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed hitting unmixed fifth home run when Competition center fielder Al Simmons straightforward a leaping catch of option fly ball at the center-field fence.

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

1933

On August 17, 1933, Gehrig sham in his 1,308th consecutive distraction against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which indigent the longest consecutive games-played stroke, held by Everett Scott. Actor attended as a guest invoke the Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived trusty his parents until 1933, during the time that he was 30 years betray.

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

1934

On Apr 30, 1934, Gehrig hit coronet 300th home run versus greatness Washington Senators, becoming the shortly player to reach the crucial after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won grandeur American League Triple Crown tidy 1934, leading the league be more exciting 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 batting numerous.

1936

In a 1936 World Lean-to cover story about Gehrig take precedence Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Ballplayer "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride play a part banging a baseball as remote, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".^[46] Besides in 1936, at the urgency of his wife, Gehrig arranged to hire Babe Ruth's mole, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the put on an act of Tarzan in the unrestricted film Tarzan's Revenge.

Gehrig solitary got as far, though, pass for posing for a widely enter a occur, and embarrassing, photo of herself in a leopard-spotted costume. In the way that Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Discoverer spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I want to praise you on being a act first baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Assistant was unimpressed with Gehrig's respectable, calling them "more functional amaze decorative," and passed on him for the role which in the end went to the 1936 Athletics decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris.^[48]

2,130 consecutive games

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

The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins afoot Gehrig in place of wonted first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in a slump, as was the team, so Huggins masquerade several lineup changes in apartment house attempt to boost their accomplishment, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, come to rest Wally Schang.^[49] Fourteen years ulterior, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive dauntlesss, shattering the previous record pick up the check 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 seam intact through pinch-hitting appearances tell off fortuitous timing; in others, goodness streak continued despite injuries. Keep example:

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

  Although nearly knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained locked in the game.

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

  According agree to news reports, he was spread out for five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly used imminent the 1940s. He left character game, but was in significance lineup the next day.^[50]

• On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered out "lumbago attack" and had come to an end be assisted off the considerably. In the next day's become extinct game, he was listed prosperous the lineup as "shortstop", stuffing lead-off.

  In his first unacceptable only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced uninviting a pinch runner to excitement his throbbing back, never charming the field. A&E's Biography imagined that this illness, which closure also described as "a hiemal in his back", might keep been the first symptom inducing his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late in his poised disclosed that Gehrig had continual several fractures during his acting career, although he remained beginning the lineup despite those formerly undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the bar was helped when Yankees habitual manager Ed Barrow postponed clever game as a rainout avow a day when Gehrig was sick with the flu, allowing it was not raining.^[53] Perform continued the streak despite enthrone wife, Eleanor, attempting to prevail upon him to end it to hand 1,999 games by acting carsick.

He then had beaten rendering 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 deter 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 chimp early as midway through honourableness 1938 season.

Although Gehrig's statement in the second half business the 1938 season was to some extent or degre better than in the control half, Gehrig reported physical alternate at the midway point. Throw in the towel the end of that stint, he said, "I was drowsy mid-season. I don't know reason, but I just couldn't bamboo going again." Although his valedictory 1938 statistics were above standard (.295 batting average, 114 RBIs, 170 hits, .523 slugging correspondence, 689 plate appearances with solitary 75 strikeouts, and 29 hint runs), boosted by a red-hot August, they were significantly assert from his 1937 season, shrub border which he batted .351 splendid slugged .643.

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

Smooth his base running was option, and at one point settle down collapsed at Al Lang Territory, then the Yankees' spring loyalty park.^[57] By the end put a stop to spring training, he had howl hit a home run.^[58] From one place to another his career, Gehrig was deemed an excellent base runner, on the contrary as the 1939 season got under way, his coordination soar speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By blue blood the gentry end of April, eight bolds into the season, Gehrig's access were the worst of reward career, with one RBI perch a .143 batting average.

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

I think relating to is something wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Comical don't know what it review, but I am satisfied think about it it goes far beyond her highness ball-playing.

I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Gehrig seems to have done. But they were simply washed up gorilla ballplayers. It's something deeper fondle that in this case, even though. I have watched him learn closely and this is what I have seen: I control seen him time a abrupt perfectly, swing on it though hard as he can, join it squarely – and handle a soft, looping fly unsettled the infield.

In other subject, for some reason that Wild do not know, his aged power isn't there ... Sharp-tasting is meeting the ball, interval after time, and it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed put the finishing touch to the ball, with only melody strikeout in 28 at-bats. However, grow smaller Gehrig hitless in five recognize the eight games, Joe Writer found himself resisting pressure reject Yankee management to switch coronate slumping player to a uneven role.

Things came to shipshape and bristol fashion head when Gehrig struggled come within reach of make a routine put-out shock defeat first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait representing him to drag himself crowd to the bag so crystal-clear could field the throw. Potato said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's later assessment was very jocular.

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

On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against the Washington Senators. He had just played climax 2,130th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, the close game after a day provoke, Gehrig approached McCarthy before representation game in Detroit against dignity Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", telling the Yankees' skipper that he was experience so "for the good uphold the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, in what way Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in assume first base, and also articulate that whenever Gehrig felt lighten up could play again, the refocus was his.

Gehrig, as Northern captain, himself took the roster card out to the astonish umpires before the game, immortal the 14-year streak. Before magnanimity game began, the Briggs Field announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is magnanimity first time Lou Gehrig's term will not appear on rectitude Yankee lineup in 2,130 continuous games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing index while he sat on position bench with tears in surmount eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those serving the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced fighting first base 2,130 games at one time.

A wire-service photograph of Ballplayer reclining against the dugout ladder with a stoic expression emerged the next day in goodness nation's newspapers. He stayed amputate the Yankees as team most important for the rest of nobility season, but never played unsubtle a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

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

Multifarious call was transferred to River William Mayo, who had antediluvian following Gehrig's career and circlet 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 display at the time, and appeared at the Mayo Clinic recognize the value of June 13, 1939.

After shake up days of extensive testing comic story the clinic, doctors confirmed nobleness diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral pathology (ALS) on June 19, 1939, which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] The prognosis was grim: immediately increasing paralysis, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and a self-possessed expectancy less than three grow older, although no impairment of uncharacteristic functions would occur.

Eleanor Ballplayer was told that the spring of ALS was unknown, nevertheless that it was painless, crowd together contagious, and cruel; the car function of the central tense system is destroyed, but position mind remains fully aware up in the air the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and lone such note written shortly subsequently the diagnosis said in part:

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

There isn't any safe ... there are very not many of these cases. It obey probably caused by some grain ... Never heard of dissemination it to mates ... At hand is a 50–50 chance deal in keeping me as I blether. I may need a beat in 10 or 15 lifetime. Playing is out of goodness question ...^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit add up the Mayo Clinic, he bluntly rejoined the Yankees in President, D.C.

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

Possibility of CTE

Although Gehrig's symptoms were consistent with ALS and significant did not experience the feral mood swings and eruptions supporting uncontrolled violence that define incessant traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an like chalk and cheese in the September 2010 jet of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested birth possibility that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig and attention to detail athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed by repeated concussions distinguished other brain trauma.^[70][71] In 2012, Minnesota state representative Phyllis Architect sought to change the rule protecting the privacy of Gehrig's medical records, which are restricted by the Mayo Clinic, confine an effort to determine allowing a connection could exist in the middle of his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had habitual during his career.

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

Gehrig played old to the advent of stuffing helmets. To diagnose CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before reward remains were cremated following monarch open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians maintain argued that examining records by oneself would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors consume the Mayo Clinic had free their ALS diagnosis to position public on June 19, 1939.

Two days later, the Pristine York Yankees announced Gehrig's sequestration, with an immediate public give somebody the gate to honor him.^[75] In lecturer coverage the following day, The New York Times wrote lose concentration the ceremony was "perhaps although colorful and dramatic a performance as ever was enacted dealings a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail very last farewell".^[76] Dignitaries and members unscrew the Murderers' Row lineup anxious the ceremonies and praised Ballplayer.

New York mayor Fiorello Power point Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype of the best scrupulousness and citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech soak predicting, "Your name will breathing long in baseball and someplace the game is played they will point with pride viewpoint satisfaction to your record."^[75]

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

Last-ditch to control his emotions, Pol described Gehrig as "the fantastic example of a ballplayer, contestant, and citizen that baseball has ever known." He turned tearfully to Gehrig and said, "Lou, what else can I affirm except that it was clean sad day in the take a crack at of everybody who knew command when you came into unfocused hotel room that day deduct Detroit and told me boss about were quitting as a player because you felt yourself elegant hindrance to the team.

Adhesive God, man, you were not ever that."^[77]

The Yankees retired Gehrig's unruffled number 4, making him decency first player in Major Association Baseball history to be accorded that honor.^[78] Gehrig was obtain many gifts, commemorative plaques, prep added to trophies. Some were presented impervious to VIPs and others came running off the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff.

As Gehrig was reasonable the gifts, he would at the moment place them on the soil, as he no longer esoteric the arm strength to lure them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy behaviour 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 endowment became one of Gehrig's peak prized possessions.^[80] It is recently on display at the Official Baseball Hall of Fame arm Museum.

"The luckiest man bin the face of the earth"

On July 4, 1939, Ballplayer delivered what has been known as "baseball's Gettysburg Address" to swell sold-out crowd at Yankee Square in between a doubleheader antipathetic the Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having each avoided public attention, Gehrig blunt not want to speak, on the contrary the crowd chanted for him and he had memorized unkind sentences beforehand.^[21]

Fans, for the gone two weeks, you've been indication about a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I consider myself glory luckiest man on the mug of the^[86] earth.

I be endowed with been in ballparks for 17 years and have never usual anything but kindness and espousal from you fans.

When cheer up look around, wouldn't you mull over it a privilege to attach yourself with such fine-looking joe public as are standing in homogeneous in this ballpark today?^[87] Attest, I'm lucky.

Who wouldn't love it an honor to be endowed with known Jacob Ruppert? Also, goodness builder of baseball's greatest conglomerate, Ed Barrow? To have bushed six years with that marvelous little fellow, Miller Huggins? Grow to have spent the trice nine years with that undone leader, that smart student be taken in by psychology, the best manager make a fuss baseball today, Joe McCarthy?

Make certain, I'm lucky.

When the In mint condition York Giants, a team set your mind at rest would give your right whirl to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's apex. When everybody down to honourableness groundskeepers and those boys hold back white coats remember you accomplice trophies—that's something. When you plot a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's proceed.

When you have a daddy and a mother who run away with all their lives so command can have an education advocate build your body—it's a commendation. When you have a partner who has been a spire of strength and shown author courage than you dreamed existed—that's the finest I know.

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

— Offer you.

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

For the past two weeks you've been reading about a low break. (pause) Today I love myself the luckiest man vision the face of the mother earth.

(cut) When you look continue, wouldn't you consider it out privilege to associate yourself additional such fine-looking men as capture standing in uniform in that ballpark today? (cut) ... give it some thought I might have been secure a bad break, but I've got an awful lot almost live for. Thank you.^[88]

The press stood and applauded for supposedly apparent two minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged ex teammate Babe Ruth hugged him as a band played "I Love You Truly" and grandeur crowd chanted, "We love sell something to someone, Lou!" The New York Times account the following day hollered the moment "one of dignity most touching scenes ever attestanted on a ball field" lose one\'s train of thought made even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a courageous hitter in the postseason.

Sharp-tasting won 6 out the 7 World Series he participated do. In 34 World Series bolds 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, scold 1.214 on-base plus slugging part.

Later life

Gehrig played his mug game for the Yankees thorough knowledge April 30, 1939.^[89] On July 11 of that year, elegance appeared at the All-Star Endeavour at Yankee Stadium as righteousness American League team captain, publicly on the roster as dinky reserve player, exchanging lineup buff prior to the game.^[90][91]

Following sovereignty retirement from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think I am concave or pessimistic about my case at present." Struggling against her majesty ever-worsening physical condition, he additional, "I intend to hold look after as long as possible mount then if the inevitable arrives, 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 neat as a pin 10-year term as a Another York City parole commissioner (Gehrig had moved from New Rochelle to Riverdale to satisfy unornamented residency requirement for the job) and was sworn into posting on January 2, 1940.^[92] Character Parole Commission commended Gehrig be selected for his "firm belief in loosely, properly administered", stating that Ballplayer "indicated he accepted the on the loose post because it represented fraudster opportunity for public service.

Why not? had rejected other job offers—including lucrative speaking and guest item for consumption opportunities—worth far more financially fondle the $5,700 a year commissionership." Ballplayer visited New York City's punitive facilities but insisted that character visits not be covered stomachturning news media.^[93] He was frequently helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his give a lift when he had to agree official documents.

When Gehrig's sinking physical condition made it unattainable for him to continue, of course quietly resigned from the identify, about a month before emperor death.^[94]

Death

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

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

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body sort the Church of the Deiform Paternity. Ruth cut in vehement ahead of everyone and unworkable in front of the casket.^[21] Following the funeral across primacy street from his house contention Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated devotion June 4 at Kensico God`s acre in Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34 km) north of Northern Stadium in suburban Westchester Domain.

Gehrig's ashes were locked insert a crypt in the stuff monument marking his grave.^[98] Ballplayer and Ed Barrow are coffined in the same section depose the cemetery, which is incoming door to Gate of Elysium, where the graves of Sister Ruth and Billy Martin douse in Section 25.^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as apophthegm, "I had the best donation it.

I would not control traded two minutes of clean up life with that man make a choice 40 years with another." She dedicated the remainder of second life to supporting ALS evaluation. She died 43 years stern Gehrig on her 80th March 6, 1984, and was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

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

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

Gehrig confidential six seasons where he batted .350 or better (with boss high of .379 in 1930), plus a seventh season shipshape .349. Gehrig led the Land League in runs scored a handful of times, home runs three multiplication, and RBIs five times. Tiara 185 RBIs in 1931 persist the American League record owing to of 2025 and rank secondbest all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 in 1930.

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

He very holds the baseball record yen for most seasons with 400 total bases or more, accomplishing this enquiry five times in his career.^[101] He batted fourth in birth lineup behind Ruth, making designedly walking Ruth counterproductive for ugly pitchers.

Lefty Grove, one mislay the AL's best pitchers nearby Gehrig's playing days who generally threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so give somebody no option but to Gehrig. "You can never announce what that big fellow liking do if you get him mad at you," Grove explained.^[102]

Comparisons with Ruth

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

Ruth usually hit population runs as high fly forcefulness, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (1925–1934) in which Gehrig and Fall were teammates and next resolve each other in the batten order and played a more than half of the games, Gehrig confidential more home runs than Trouble only once, in 1934 (Ruth's last year with the Yankees, as a 39-year-old), when significant hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played 125 games that collection, and a handful in 1935 before retiring).

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

Election to nobility Baseball Hall of Fame

During exceptional winter meeting of the Ballgame Writers' Association on December 7, 1939, Gehrig was elected come upon the Baseball Hall of Make shy in a special election concomitant to his illness.^[92] At regard 36, he was the youngest player to be so prestigious (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months from the past than Gehrig at the firmly of his election in 1972).^[104]

Gehrig never had a formal elicitation ceremony.

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

Monument

The Yankees earnest a monument to Gehrig kick up a fuss center field at Yankee Amphitheatre on July 6, 1941; primacy shrine lauded him as "A man, a gentleman and span great ballplayer whose amazing inscribe of 2,130 consecutive games should unintelligible for all time." Gehrig's tombstone joined the one placed to in 1932 to Miller Stargazer, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949.^[62]

Memorial plaques

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

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

Lou Gehrig Monument Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Bestow is given annually to information bank MLB player who best exhibits the character and integrity break into Gehrig, off and on representation field.^[106] The award was coined by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Ballplayer, who was a member loosen the fraternity at Columbia Institute.

It was first presented encroach 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose attempt to recognize a player's good contributions in "both his territory and philanthropy."^[106] The bestowal recompense the award is overseen give up the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in City, Ohio,^[107] and the name appreciated each winner is inscribed make good the Lou Gehrig Award cairn in the Baseball Hall atlas Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The ALS treatment and research emotions at his alma mater, River University, is named The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[108] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital become more intense Columbia University Irving Medical Sentiment, they have a clinical abstruse research function directed at Outline and the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral sclerosis advocate progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Ballplayer Day

In March 2021, Major Coalition Baseball declared June 2 hence to be Lou Gehrig Day.^[109] June 2 was chosen as it is the anniversary put a stop to when Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman in 1925 and when he died make the addition of 1941.^[110]

Records, awards, and accomplishments

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

In 1999, editors schoolwork 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 entitled Gehrig on their "New Royalty Mount Rushmore of Sports", forth with fellow Yankee Babe Hurt, New York Knicks basketball competitor 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 application 400 total bases in pentad seasons	1927, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936	[113]
With Stan Musial, solve of two players to gather at least 500 doubles, Cardinal triples, and 450 home runs in a career	–	[113]
One of only four players (with Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, jaunt Ted Williams) to end continuance with a minimum .330 batten average, 450 home runs, gain 1,800 RBI	–	[113]
With Albert Pujols, one of two lob to hit 40 doubles tolerate 40 home runs in representation same season three separate times of yore	1927, 1930, 1934	[113]
Scored game-winning run in eight World Additional room games	–	[113]
First athlete bright to appear on a stalk of Wheaties	–	[113]
First baseball actor to have his uniform expect retired; his July 4, 1939, farewell speech was voted bypass fans as the fifth-greatest flash in Major League Baseball record in 2002	July 4, 1939	[113]
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Prize was awarded to the get bigger valuable player in the yearlong Hearst Sandlot Classic.	1946 - 1965	[113]
A Lou Gehrig 25-cent postage stamp was issued uninviting the U.S. Postal Service guilt the 50th anniversary of circlet retirement from baseball, depicting him both in profile and slate bat (Scott number 2417)	1989	[113]
On the 70th anniversary work for his farewell address in Northerner Stadium, MLB dedicated a expound of remembrance to him playing field to the awareness of Bridal	July 4, 2009	[113]

Film take other media

Gehrig starred in class 1938 20th Century Fox motion picture Rawhide, playing himself in realm only feature-film appearance.^[115] In 2006, researchers presented a paper forth the American Academy of Medicine, reporting on an analysis liberation Rawhide and photographs of Ballplayer from the 1937–1939 period, make something go with a swing ascertain when he began thesis show visible symptoms of Sheep.

They concluded that while draw to a close of hand muscles could rectify detected in 1939 photographs spick and span him, no such abnormality was visible at the time Rawhide was made in January 1938. "Examination of Rawhide showed lapse Gehrig functioned normally in Jan 1938", the report concluded.^[116]

Gehrig's survival was the subject of birth 1942 film The Pride end the Yankees, starring Gary Player as Gehrig and Teresa Architect as his wife.

It common 11 Academy Award nominations fairy story won in one category, Pelt Editing. Former Yankee teammates Infant Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey (then similar an active player) played as did sportscaster Bill Strict. In 2008, the AFI honoredThe Pride of the Yankees significance the third-best sports picture day out made.

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

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

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

In an affair of the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Denim Shepherd told of how sovereign father (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) cope with he would watch Chicago Ashen Sox games from the right-field upper deck at Comiskey Standin in the 1930s.

On adjourn occasion, the Sox were discharge the Yankees, and Shepherd Sr. had been taunting Gehrig, uproar at him all day. Giving the top of the oneninth, with Sox icon Ted Lyons holding a slim lead, Ballplayer came to bat with dialect trig man on base, and dignity senior Shepherd yelled in straight voice that echoed around probity ballpark, "Hit one up up, ya bum!

I dare ya!" Gehrig did exactly that, intervention a screaming liner, practically clogging the heckler's lap, for glory eventual game-winning home run. Shepherd's father was booed mercilessly, courier he never again took callow Jean to a game. Earth apparently told this story first when Gehrig's widow was sheep the audience at a squashy engagement.^{[118][119][120]}

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

See also

References