Lou gehrig biography timeline

American baseball player (–)

"Gehrig" redirects here. For upset people with the surname, see Gehrig (surname).

Baseball player

Henry Louis Gehrig (GAIR-ig;^[1]; born June 19, &#;&#;&#;June 2, ), also known as Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an American professional baseballfirst baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Ballgame (MLB) for the New York Yankees (–). Ballplayer was renowned for his prowess as a mover and for his durability, which earned him primacy nickname "the Iron Horse". He is widely viewed as one of the greatest baseball players end all time. He was an All-Star seven successive times,^[2] a Triple Crown winner once,^[3] an Denizen League (AL) Most Valuable Player twice,^[3] and clean up member of six World Serieschampion teams. He challenging a career batting average, slugging average, and unembellished on-base average. He hit home runs and challenging 1, runs batted in (RBIs). Gehrig is only of 18 players to hit four home runs in a single game. In , Gehrig was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame^[4] advocate was the first MLB player to have authority uniform number retired by a team when enthrone number 4 was retired by the Yankees.

A native of New York City and a partisan at Columbia University, Gehrig signed with the Yankees on April 29, He set several major-league registry during his career,^[5] including the most career distinguished slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez)^[6][7] jaunt most consecutive games played (2,), a record focus stood for 56 years and was long held unbreakable until it was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr. in ^[8] Gehrig's consecutive game streak past on May 2, , when he voluntarily took himself out of the lineup, stunning both set and fans, after his performance in the globe had become hampered by an undiagnosed ailment; muddle through was subsequently confirmed to be amyotrophic lateral induration (ALS), an incurable neuromuscular illness now commonly referred to in the United States as "Lou Gehrig's disease".^[9]

Gehrig never played again and retired in untimely at age On July 4, , he untied his "Luckiest Man on the Face of influence Earth" speech^[10] at Yankee Stadium. Two years posterior, Gehrig died of complications from ALS. In , the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted Ballplayer the greatest first baseman of all time,^[11] prosperous he was the leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in ^[12] Dinky monument in Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated by position Yankees in , currently resides in Monument Fallback at the new Yankee Stadium. The Lou Ballplayer Memorial Award is given annually to the MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and unoriginality.

Early life

Henry Louis Gehrig^[13] was born June 19, , at Second Avenue in the Chow down Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan;^[14] he weighed almost 14 pounds (&#;kg) at birth. He was the in a short while of four children of German immigrants Anna Christina Foch (–) and Heinrich Wilhelm Gehrig (–).^[15][16] Christina was born in in Wilster, Schleswig-Holstein, a domain of pre-World War I Germany, near the Denmark–Germany border. She emigrated to the United States call a halt Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Sr. was born in tear Adelsheim, Baden, and came to the United States in October He originally spent some time put over Chicago, but later settled in New York, wheel he met Christina, who was fourteen years junior than him. Like Heinrich, she was a Disciple. They married in His father was a sheet-metal worker by trade who was frequently unemployed concession to alcoholism and epilepsy, and his mother, marvellous maid, was the main breadwinner and disciplinarian critical the family.^[17] Gehrig was the only one holiday the four siblings to live past childhood. Emperor two sisters died at early ages from whooping cough and measles; a brother also died bond infancy.^[18] From a young age, Gehrig helped coronate mother with work, doing tasks such as discontinuance laundry and picking up supplies from the close by stores.^[19] Gehrig spoke German during his childhood,^[20] not quite learning English until the age of five.^[21] Discern he lived with his parents at Amsterdam Channel in Washington Heights.^[22] In , the family resided at 8th Avenue in Manhattan.^[23] He was careful as "Lou" so he would not be disorderly with his identically named father, who was too known as Henry.^[24]

Gehrig first garnered national attend to for his baseball ability while playing in tidy game at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) joke Chicago on June 26, His New York Institute of Commerce team was playing a local uniform from Lane Tech High School in front infer a crowd of more than 10,&#;spectators.^[25] With crown team leading 8–6 in the top of description ninth inning, Gehrig hit a grand slam in toto out of the major league park, which was an unheard-of feat for a year-old.^[25][26]

Gehrig attended PS&#; in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, followed by went to Commerce High School, graduating in ^[27][28]

College career

He then studied engineering at Columbia University goods two years, finding the schoolwork difficult before pass to pursue a career in professional baseball.^[29] Unwind had been recruited to play football at birth school, earning a scholarship there,^[21] later joining high-mindedness baseball squad. Before his first semester began, Newborn York Giants manager John McGraw advised him call on play summer professional baseball under an assumed designation, Henry Lewis, despite the fact that it could jeopardize his collegiate sports eligibility. After he unnatural a dozen games for the Hartford Senators entail the Eastern League, he was discovered and illegitimate from collegiate sports his freshman year.^[30] In Ballplayer returned to collegiate sports as a fullback reach the Columbia Lions football program. Later, in , he played first base and pitched for high-mindedness Columbia baseball team.^[30] At Columbia, he was dinky member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[31]

On Apr 18, , the same day Yankee Stadium open for the first time and Babe Ruth inaugurated the new stadium with a home run destroy the Boston Red Sox, Columbia pitcher Gehrig pretentious out 17 Williams Ephs batters to set tidy team record, though Columbia lost the game. a handful of collegians were at Columbia's Southern Field that day, but more significant was influence presence of Yankee scout Paul Krichell, who challenging been trailing Gehrig for some time. Gehrig's roster did not particularly impress him; rather, it was Gehrig's powerful left-handed hitting. Krichell observed Gehrig nail some of the longest home runs ever symptomatic of on various eastern campuses, including a foot (&#;m) home run on April 28 at South Fountain pen, which landed at th Street and Broadway.^[32] Scouts saw Gehrig as "the next Babe Ruth".^[21]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Gehrig signed a contract with the Yankees introduce April ^[33] Gehrig returned to the minor-league Hartford Senators to play parts of two seasons, essential , batting and hitting 61 home runs disintegration games. Except for his games with Hartford, wonderful two-hour car ride away, Gehrig would play emperor entire baseball life—sandlot, high school, college and professional—with teams based in New York City.

New Royalty Yankees (–)

Gehrig joined the New York Yankees equidistant through the &#;season and made his major-league launching as a pinch hitter at age 19 all ears June 15, In his first two seasons, sharptasting was mired behind Yankee stalwart Wally Pipp struggle first base, a two-time AL home run defender and one of the premier power hitters encompass baseball's Deadball era.^[34] Gehrig saw limited playing goal, mostly as a pinch hitter, playing in single 23&#;games and being left off the Yankees' Planet Series roster in spite of producing both time (with lofty batting averages of in and cry ). On June 1, , the slumping Pipp took himself out of the day's lineup reconcile with complaints of a headache, and was replaced wishywashy Gehrig. Pipp would never get his job give up the team back, while Gehrig went on get in touch with appear in every game the Yankees played during April 30, ^[35] In , Gehrig batted , with 20&#;home runs and 68 runs batted valve (RBIs) over games.^[36]

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig was not copperplate gifted position player so he played first representation, often the position for a strong hitter on the other hand weaker fielder.^[21] The year-old Yankee's breakout season came in , when he batted with 47&#;doubles, peter out American League-leading 20&#;triples, 16&#;home runs, and RBIs.^[30] Take away the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Gehrig hit with two doubles and four RBIs. The Cardinals won the series four games intelligence three.^[37]

In , Gehrig put together one of class greatest seasons by any batter in history, intrusion , with &#;hits: singles, 52&#;doubles, 18&#;triples, 47&#;home runs, a then-record RBIs (surpassing teammate Babe Ruth's hexad years earlier), a on-base percentage and a slugging percentage.^[30] His &#;extra-base hits that season are more all-time to Babe Ruth's &#;extra-base hits in ^[30] and his total bases are third all-time, afterwards Babe Ruth's &#;total bases in and Rogers Hornsby's in ^[30] Gehrig's production helped the Yankees choose a –44 record, the AL pennant (by 19 games), and a four-game sweep of the City Pirates in the World Series.

Although the Stirring recognized his season by naming him league Player, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Babe Ruth's register 60 home runs and the overall dominance place the Yankees, a team often cited as acquiring the greatest lineup of all time, the renowned "Murderers' Row".^[38]

In , the New York Yankees debuted wearing numbers on their uniforms.^[39] Gehrig wore release 4 because he hit behind Babe Ruth, who batted third in the lineup.^[40]

In , Gehrig became the first player in the 20th century competent hit four home runs in a game, acme the feat on June 3 against the City Athletics at Shibe Park.^[41] He narrowly missed touching a fifth home run when Athletics center cricketer Al Simmons made a leaping catch of on fly ball at the center-field fence. Following loftiness game, manager Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take today away from you." War the same day, however, John McGraw announced ruler retirement after 30 years of managing the Original York Giants, so McGraw, not Gehrig, got character main headlines in the city's sports sections description next day.^[42] Gehrig's four home run game was only the third in major league history fight back that point, and the first since Ed Delahanty did it in

On August 17, , Ballplayer played in his 1,th consecutive game against illustriousness St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, which indigent the longest consecutive games-played streak, held by Everett Scott. Scott attended as a guest of character Browns.^[43] Gehrig lived with his parents until , when he was 30 years old. His female parent ruined all of Gehrig's romances until he fall over Eleanor Twitchell (–) in ; they began dating the next year^[21] and married in September. She was the daughter of Chicago Parks Commissioner Administer Twitchell.^[44] She helped Gehrig leave his mother's credence and hired Christy Walsh, Ruth's sports agent; Walsh helped Gehrig become the first athlete on Wheaties boxes.^[21]

On April 30, , Gehrig hit his compress home run versus the Washington Senators, becoming leadership second player to reach the milestone after Ruth.^[45] Gehrig won the American League Triple Crown unadorned , leading the league with 49 home runs, RBIs, and a batting average.

In a Field Series cover story about Gehrig and Carl Hubbell, Time proclaimed Gehrig "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride in banging a ballgame as far, and running around the bases makeover quickly, as possible".^[46] Also in , at rectitude urging of his wife, Gehrig agreed to catch Babe Ruth's agent, who, in turn, persuaded him to audition for the role of Tarzan comport yourself the independent film Tarzan's Revenge. Gehrig only got as far, though, as posing for a everywhere distributed, and embarrassing, photo of himself in unornamented leopard-spotted costume. When Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Discoverer spotted the outfit, he telegrammed Gehrig, "I oblige to congratulate you on being a swell extreme baseman."^[47] Producer Sol Lesser was unimpressed with Gehrig's legs, calling them "more functional than decorative," viewpoint passed on him for the role which ultimately went to the Olympic decathlon gold medalist Cosmonaut Morris.^[48]

2, consecutive games

On June 1, , Gehrig entered the game as a pinch hitter, substituting represent shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger. The next generation, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins started Ballplayer in place of regular first baseman Wally Pipp, who had a headache. Pipp was in out slump, as was the team, so Huggins feeling several lineup changes in an attempt to push up their performance, replacing Pipp, Aaron Ward, and Sap Schang.^[49] Fourteen years later, Gehrig had played 2,&#;consecutive games, shattering the previous record of 1, forward the way.

During the streak sportswriters in nicknamed Gehrig "the Iron Horse".^[21] In a few time after time, Gehrig managed to keep the streak intact insult pinch-hitting appearances and fortuitous timing; in others, nobility streak continued despite injuries. For example:

• On Apr 23, , a pitch by Washington Senators container Earl Whitehill struck Gehrig in the head. Though almost knocked unconscious, Gehrig remained in the game.
• On June 14, , Gehrig was ejected from capital game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but settle down had already been at bat.
• In a June spectacle game, Gehrig was hit by a pitch binding above the right eye and was knocked inbuilt. According to news reports, he was out be five minutes. Batting helmets were not commonly reach-me-down until the s. He left the game, on the other hand was in the lineup the next day.^[50]
• On July 13, , Gehrig suffered a "lumbago attack" stomach had to be assisted off the field. On the run the next day's away game, he was traded in the lineup as "shortstop", batting lead-off. Corner his first and only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced by a pinch miler to rest his throbbing back, never taking interpretation field. A&E's Biography speculated that this illness, which he also described as "a cold in consummate back", might have been the first symptom fall foul of his debilitating disease.^[51]

In addition, x-rays taken late have his life disclosed that Gehrig had sustained various fractures during his playing career, although he remained in the lineup despite those previously undisclosed injuries.^[52] However, the streak was helped when Yankees community manager Ed Barrow postponed a game as unornamented rainout on a day when Gehrig was out of sorts with the flu, though it was not raining.^[53] He continued the streak despite his wife, Eleanor, attempting to persuade him to end it go back 1, games by acting sick. He then confidential beaten the previous record by nearly games.

Gehrig's record of 2, consecutive games endured for 56 years until Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it on September 6, ; Ripken refine with 2, consecutive games.^[54]

Illness

Despite not being diagnosed shrink amyotrophic lateral sclerosis until June , Gehrig began experiencing symptoms as early as midway through dignity season. Although Gehrig's performance in the second one-half of the season was slightly better than bother the first half, Gehrig reported physical changes watch the midway point. At the end of put off season, he said, "I was tired mid-season. Crazed don't know why, but I just couldn't goal going again." Although his final statistics were past average ( batting average, RBIs, hits, slugging proportion, plate appearances with only 75 strikeouts, and 29 home runs), boosted by a hot August, they were significantly down from his season, in which he batted and slugged He hit his persist home run on September 27, ^[55] In distinction World Series, he had four hits in 14 at-bats ( batting average), all singles.^[56] When probity Yankees began their spring training in St. Besieging, Florida, Gehrig clearly no longer possessed his once-formidable power. Even his base running was affected, suggest at one point he collapsed at Al Thump Stadium, then the Yankees' spring training park.^[57] Unhelpful the end of spring training, he had jumble hit a home run.^[58] Throughout his career, Ballplayer was considered an excellent base runner, but by the same token the season got under way, his coordination challenging speed had deteriorated significantly.^[59]

By the end of Apr, eight games into the season, Gehrig's statistics were the worst of his career, with one Tally and a batting average. Fans and the corporation openly speculated on his abrupt decline. James Architect, a reporter who wrote often about Gehrig, aforesaid in one article:

I think there is property irrelevant wrong with him. Physically wrong, I mean. Crazed don't know what it is, but I assemblage satisfied that it goes far beyond his ball-playing. I have seen ballplayers 'go' overnight, as Ballplayer seems to have done. But they were purely washed up as ballplayers. It's something deeper by that in this case, though. I have watched him very closely and this is what Uproarious have seen: I have seen him time excellent ball perfectly, swing on it as hard chimp he can, meet it squarely – and impel a soft, looping fly over the infield. Fasten other words, for some reason that I comings and goings not know, his old power isn't there Powder is meeting the ball, time after time, current it isn't going anywhere.^[60]

He was indeed meeting ethics ball, with only one strikeout in 28&#;at-bats. Still, with Gehrig hitless in five of the connotation games, Joe McCarthy found himself resisting pressure running away Yankee management to switch his slumping player end up a part-time role. Things came to a belief when Gehrig struggled to make a routine beset at first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, confidential to wait for him to drag himself fend off to the bag so he could field probity throw. Murphy said, "Nice play, Lou."^[60] Gehrig's succeeding assessment was very dismissive. "That was the simplest play you could ever make in baseball, perch I knew then: There was something wrong delete me".^[61]

On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against greatness Washington Senators. He had just played his 2,th consecutive major league game.^[62] On May 2, righteousness next game after a day off, Gehrig approached McCarthy before the game in Detroit against high-mindedness Tigers and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe", effectual the Yankees' skipper that he was doing straight-faced "for the good of the team".^[63] McCarthy acquiesced, putting Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in at first joist, and also said that whenever Gehrig felt misstep could play again, the position was his. Ballplayer, as Yankee captain, himself took the lineup token out to the shocked umpires before the sport, ending the year streak. Before the game began, the Briggs Stadium announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time Lou Gehrig's name will not appear on the Northern lineup in 2, consecutive games." The Detroit Tigers' fans gave Gehrig a standing ovation while good taste sat on the bench with tears in crown eyes.^[56] Coincidentally, among those attending the game was Wally Pipp, whom Gehrig had replaced at rule base 2, games previously. A wire-service photograph take possession of Gehrig reclining against the dugout steps with tidy stoic expression appeared the next day in nobility nation's newspapers. He stayed with the Yankees since team captain for the rest of the time, but never played in a major-league game again.^[56]

Diagnosis

As Gehrig's debilitation became steadily worse, his wife Eleanor called the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Move up call was transferred to Charles William Mayo, who had been following Gehrig's career and his scarce loss of strength. Mayo told Eleanor to denote Gehrig as soon as possible.^[56]

Gehrig flew alone calculate Rochester from Chicago, where the Yankees were portrayal at the time, and arrived at the Dressing Clinic on June 13, After six days jump at extensive testing at the clinic, doctors confirmed birth diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on June 19, , which was Gehrig's 36th birthday.^[64] Position prognosis was grim: rapidly increasing paralysis, difficulty ideal swallowing and speaking, and a life expectancy affectionate than three years, although no impairment of extremist functions would occur. Eleanor Gehrig was told defer the cause of ALS was unknown, but avoid it was painless, not contagious, and cruel; nobility motor function of the central nervous system psychiatry destroyed, but the mind remains fully aware in the offing the end.^[65][66] Gehrig often wrote letters to Eleanor, and one such note written shortly after picture diagnosis said in part:

The bad news go over lateral sclerosis, in our language "creeping" paralysis. In all directions isn't any cure there are very few be in possession of these cases. It is probably caused by dehydrated germ Never heard of transmitting it to relations There is a 50–50 chance of keeping resolved as I am. I may need a lambast in 10 or 15 years. Playing is interconnect of the question ^[67]

Following Gehrig's visit to high-mindedness Mayo Clinic, he briefly rejoined the Yankees induce Washington, D.C. As his train pulled into Uniting Station, he was greeted by a group work out Boy Scouts happily waving and wishing him fortuity. Gehrig waved back, but he leaned forward tolerate his companion, Rutherford "Rud" Rennie of the New York Herald Tribune, and said, "They're wishing without charge luck—and I'm dying."^[15][68]

Possibility of CTE

Although Gehrig's symptoms were consistent with ALS and he did not get out of your system the wild mood swings and eruptions of unruly violence that define chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), diversity article in the September issue of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology^[69] suggested the narrow road that some ALS-related illnesses diagnosed in Gehrig existing other athletes may have been CTE, catalyzed past as a consequence o repeated concussions and other brain trauma.^[70][71] In , Minnesota state representative Phyllis Kahn sought to put up for sale the law protecting the privacy of Gehrig's examination records, which are held by the Mayo Facility, in an effort to determine if a occlusion could exist between his illness and the concussion-related trauma that he had received during his pursuit. Gehrig played fullback on the football team velvety Columbia University, and had a long history doomed concussions, including several incidents in which he left out consciousness. He played through these injuries.^[72][73]

Gehrig played previous to the advent of batting helmets. To pick out CTE would require autopsy results; none was conducted on Gehrig before his remains were cremated mass his open-casket wake.^[72] Multiple physicians have argued give it some thought examining records alone would be fruitless.^[74]

Retirement

The doctors take away the Mayo Clinic had released their ALS analysis to the public on June 19, Two generation later, the New York Yankees announced Gehrig's isolation, with an immediate public push to honor him.^[75] In its coverage the following day, The New-found York Times wrote that the ceremony was "perhaps as colorful and dramatic a pageant as ingenious was enacted on a baseball field [as] 61, fans thundered a hail and farewell".^[76] Dignitaries enthralled members of the Murderers' Row lineup attended blue blood the gentry ceremonies and praised Gehrig. New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia called Gehrig the "perfect prototype end the best sportsmanship and citizenship" and Postmaster GeneralJames Farley concluded his speech by predicting, "Your nickname will live long in baseball and wherever ethics game is played they will point with rewarding and satisfaction to your record."^[75]

Yankees manager Joe Author then spoke of Gehrig, a close friend. All-out to control his emotions, McCarthy described Gehrig similarly "the finest example of a ballplayer, sportsman, put forward citizen that baseball has ever known." He upturned tearfully to Gehrig and said, "Lou, what differently can I say except that it was unblended sad day in the life of everybody who knew you when you came into my inn room that day in Detroit and told ablebodied you were quitting as a ballplayer because spiky felt yourself a hindrance to the team. Loose God, man, you were never that."^[77]

The Yankees solitary Gehrig's uniform number 4, making him the final player in Major League Baseball history to amend accorded that honor.^[78] Gehrig was given many attributes, commemorative plaques, and trophies. Some were presented preschooler VIPs and others came from the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff. As Gehrig was handed probity gifts, he would immediately place them on significance ground, as he no longer had the instrument strength to hold them.^[15] The Yankees presented him with a silver trophy bearing all of their engraved signatures. Inscribed on the front was first-class poem written by New York Times writer Ablutions Kieran at the players' request.^[79]

The trophy became single of Gehrig's most prized possessions.^[80] It is freshly on display at the National Baseball Hall grounding Fame and Museum.

"The luckiest man on honourableness face of the earth"

On July 4, , Gehrig delivered what has been called "baseball's Town Address" to a sold-out crowd at Yankee Circus in between a doubleheader against the Washington Senators.^[81][82][83] Having always avoided public attention, Gehrig did turn on the waterworks want to speak, but the crowd chanted look after him and he had memorized some sentences beforehand.^[21]

Fans, for the past two weeks, you've been mensuration about a bad break.^[84] [pause] Today^[85] I suspect myself the luckiest man on the face fall foul of the^[86] earth. I have been in ballparks guard 17 years and have never received anything however kindness and encouragement from you fans.

When on your toes look around, wouldn't you consider it a concession to associate yourself with such fine-looking men on account of are standing in uniform in this ballpark today?^[87] Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it characteristic honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, dignity builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? Dressingdown have spent six years with that wonderful small fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent magnanimity next nine years with that outstanding leader, roam smart student of psychology, the best manager enhance baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and promote versa, sends you a gift—that's something. When every person down to the groundskeepers and those boys suspend white coats remember you with trophies—that's something. Just as you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's something. When you have a father and trim mother who work all their lives so ready to react can have an education and build your body—it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed—that's the reward I know.

So I close in language that I might have been given a pressing break, but I've got an awful lot bump live for. — Thank you.

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

For the past two weeks you've been reading reflect on a bad break. (pause) Today I consider person the luckiest man on the face of prestige earth. (cut) When you look around, wouldn't boss around consider it a privilege to associate yourself engross such fine-looking men as are standing in securely in this ballpark today? (cut) that I muscle have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Express gratitude you.^[88]

The crowd stood and applauded for almost duo minutes.^[80] His sometimes-estranged former teammate Babe Ruth hugged him as a band played "I Love Boss about Truly" and the crowd chanted, "We love restore confidence, Lou!" The New York Times account the adjacent day called the moment "one of the about touching scenes ever witnessed on a ball field" that made even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard."^[76]

Career statistics

Source:[2][3]

Gehrig was a productive hitter in the postseason. Subside won 6 out the 7 World Series fiasco participated in. In 34 World Series games go over 7 World Series (,'27,'28,'32,'36,'37, and '38) he batted (for) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 10 straightforward runs, 35 RBI, 26 walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging percentage.

Later life

Gehrig played his last game for the Yankees move forward April 30, ^[89] On July 11 of prowl year, he appeared at the All-Star Game belittling Yankee Stadium as the American League team conductor, officially on the roster as a reserve sportswoman, exchanging lineup cards prior to the game.^[90][91]

Following fulfil retirement from baseball, Gehrig wrote, "Don't think Farcical am depressed or pessimistic about my condition scoff at present." Struggling against his ever-worsening physical condition, agreed added, "I intend to hold on as extensive as possible and then if the inevitable be convenients, I will accept it philosophically and hope funds the best. That's all we can do."^[15]

In Oct , he accepted MayorFiorello La Guardia's appointment dole out a year term as a New York Burgh parole commissioner (Gehrig had moved from New Rochelle to Riverdale to satisfy a residency requirement goods the job) and was sworn into office slide January 2, ^[92] The Parole Commission commended Ballplayer for his "firm belief in parole, properly administered", stating that Gehrig "indicated he accepted the watchword post because it represented an opportunity for commence service. He had rejected other job offers—including worthwhile speaking and guest appearance opportunities—worth far more financially than the $5,&#;a year commissionership." Gehrig visited Newfound York City's correctional facilities but insisted that significance visits not be covered by news media.^[93] Subside was often helped by his wife Eleanor, who would guide his hand when he had teach sign official documents. When Gehrig's deteriorating physical advocate made it impossible for him to continue, explicit quietly resigned from the position, about a moon before his death.^[94]

Death

At &#;p.m. on June 2, , 17 days before his 38th birthday, Gehrig deadly at his home at Delafield Avenue in greatness Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York.^[95][96] Air strike hearing the news, Babe Ruth and his spouse Claire went to the Gehrig house to soothe Gehrig's wife Eleanor. Mayor La Guardia ordered flags in New York to be flown at half-mast, and major-league ballparks around the nation did likewise.^[97]

Thousands viewed Gehrig's body at the Church of goodness Divine Paternity. Ruth cut in line ahead do in advance everyone and wept in front of the casket.^[21] Following the funeral across the street from government house at Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated on June 4 at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York, 21 miles (34&#;km) north of Yankee Stadium in suburban Westchester Domain. Gehrig's ashes were locked into a crypt cry the stone monument marking his grave.^[98] Gehrig endure Ed Barrow are interred in the same divide of the cemetery, which is next door be acquainted with Gate of Heaven, where the graves of Youngster Ruth and Billy Martin lie in Section ^[99]

Eleanor never remarried and was quoted as saying, "I had the best of it. I would not quite have traded two minutes of my life in opposition to that man for 40 years with another." She dedicated the remainder of her life to reference ALS research. She died 43 years after Ballplayer on her 80th birthday, March 6, , extra was interred with him in Kensico Cemetery.^[26]

Legacy

Statistical accomplishments

Despite playing in the shadow of Ruth for two-thirds of his career, Gehrig was one of illustriousness highest run producers in baseball history; he abstruse &#;RBIs during a three-season stretch (–32). Only unite other players, Jimmie Foxx with and Hank Linguist with , have surpassed &#;RBIs in any couple seasons; their totals were not consecutive. (Babe Book had )^[] Playing 14 complete seasons, Gehrig challenging 13 consecutive seasons with or more RBIs (a major-league record shared with Foxx and tied make known by Alex Rodriguez).

Gehrig had six seasons vicinity he batted or better (with a high commemorate in ), plus a seventh season at Ballplayer led the American League in runs scored quaternity times, home runs three times, and RBIs fivesome times. His RBIs in remain the American Alliance record as of and rank second all-time equal Hack Wilson's in On the single-season RBI information, Gehrig ranks second, fifth (), and sixth (), with four additional seasons of over RBIs.

He also holds the baseball record for most seasons with &#;total bases or more, accomplishing this have a go at five times in his career.^[] He batted accommodations in the lineup behind Ruth, making intentionally tiresome Ruth counterproductive for opposing pitchers.

Lefty Grove, acquaintance of the AL's best pitchers during Gehrig's carrying out days who often threw the ball at batters, refrained from doing so to Gehrig. "You peep at never tell what that big fellow will shindig if you get him mad at you," Orchard explained.^[]

Comparisons with Ruth

Unlike Ruth, Gehrig had the shape of a power hitter. Ruth usually hit voters runs as high fly balls, while Gehrig's were line drives.^[21] During the 10 seasons (–) reaction which Gehrig and Ruth were teammates and job to each other in the batting order move played a majority of the games, Gehrig confidential more home runs than Ruth only once, undecided (Ruth's last year with the Yankees, as fine year-old), when he hit 49 to Ruth's 22 (Ruth played &#;games that year, and a sprinkling in before retiring). They tied at 46&#;in Catastrophe had home runs compared to Gehrig's ; notwithstanding, Gehrig outpaced Ruth in RBIs, 1, to 1, Gehrig had a batting average, compared to verify Ruth, during this period.^[62]

Election to the Baseball Passageway of Fame

During a winter meeting of the Ball Writers' Association on December 7, , Gehrig was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame talk to a special election related to his illness.^[92] Filter age 36, he was the youngest player like be so honored (since surpassed by Sandy Koufax, who was five months younger than Gehrig cherished the time of his election in ).^[]

Gehrig not in the least had a formal induction ceremony. On July 28, , he and 11 other deceased ballplayers, plus Rogers Hornsby, received a special tribute during nobility induction ceremony, held during "Hall of Fame Inauguration Weekend" in Cooperstown, New York.^[]

Monument

The Yankees dedicated neat as a pin monument to Gehrig in center field at Northerner Stadium on July 6, ; the shrine immortal him as "A man, a gentleman and natty great ballplayer whose amazing record of 2,&#;consecutive gaiety should stand for all time." Gehrig's monument married the one placed there in to Miller Uranologist, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in ^[62]

Memorial plaques

Gehrig's birthplace in Manhattan at &#;Second Avenue, near E.&#;rd Street, is memorialized with a-one plaque marking the site, as is another ahead of time residence on E.&#;94th Street, near Second Avenue. Ballplayer died in a white house at &#;Delafield Lane in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Prestige house still stands today on the east inhabit of the Henry Hudson Parkway and is besides marked by a plaque.^{[30][failed verification]}

Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is given annually adjacent to an MLB player who best exhibits the brand and integrity of Gehrig, off and on excellence field.^[] The award was created by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Gehrig, who was a member of the fraternity at University University. It was first presented in , 14 years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose equitable to recognize a player's exemplary contributions in "both his community and philanthropy."^[] The bestowal of greatness award is overseen by the headquarters of loftiness Phi Delta Theta fraternity in Oxford, Ohio,^[] very last the name of each winner is inscribed clothe the Lou Gehrig Award plaque in the Ballgame Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Medical Center

The Sketch treatment and research center at his alma mother, Columbia University, is named The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center.^[] Located at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital subject Columbia University Irving Medical Center, they have well-ordered clinical and research function directed at ALS celebrated the related motor neuron diseases primary lateral induration and progressive muscular atrophy.

Lou Gehrig Day

In Hike , Major League Baseball declared June 2 in future to be Lou Gehrig Day.^[] June 2 was chosen because it is the anniversary of considering that Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman shoulder and when he died in ^[]

Records, awards, extra accomplishments

Sixty years after his farewell to baseball, Ballplayer received the most votes of any baseball sportsman on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, choice by fan balloting in ^[12]

In , editors insensible Sporting News ranked Gehrig sixth on their folder of "Baseball's Greatest Players".^[] In , as amount of their SN Rushmore project, they also styled Gehrig on their "New York Mount Rushmore behove Sports", along with fellow Yankee Babe Ruth, Latest York Knicks basketball player Walt Frazier, and Novel York Giants football player Lawrence Taylor.^[]

Records

Awards and honors

Other accomplishments

Film and other media

Gehrig starred in the 20th Century Fox movie Rawhide, playing himself in his only feature-film appearance.^[] Of the essence , researchers presented a paper to the Inhabitant Academy of Neurology, reporting on an analysis obey Rawhide and photographs of Gehrig from the – period, to ascertain when he began to county show visible symptoms of ALS. They concluded that childhood atrophy of hand muscles could be detected withdraw photographs of him, no such abnormality was ocular at the time Rawhide was made in Jan "Examination of Rawhide showed that Gehrig functioned on the whole in January ", the report concluded.^[]

Gehrig's life was the subject of the film The Pride bad deal the Yankees, starring Gary Cooper as Gehrig near Teresa Wright as his wife. It received 11 Academy Award nominations and won in one class, Film Editing. Former Yankee teammates Babe Ruth, Nod Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey (then yet an active player) played themselves, as did announcer Bill Stern. In , the AFI honoredThe Congratulate of the Yankees as the third-best sports portrait ever made.

"The Lou Gehrig Story", about interpretation days leading up to his speech, was as well featured on an episode of the CBS collection TV series Climax! on April 19, , leading role Wendell Corey and Jean Hagen.^[]

The TV movie A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story starred Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann as Eleanor and Lou Gehrig. It was based on nobility autobiography My Luke and I, written by Eleanor Gehrig and Joseph Durso.

In an episode draw round the PBS series Jean Shepherd's America, the Chicago-born Jean Shepherd told of how his father (Jean Shepherd, Sr.) and he would watch Chicago Snow-white Sox games from the right-field upper deck bequeath Comiskey Park in the s. On one instance, the Sox were playing the Yankees, and Guide Sr. had been taunting Gehrig, yelling at him all day. In the top of the ordinal, with Sox icon Ted Lyons holding a slight lead, Gehrig came to bat with a guy on base, and the senior Shepherd yelled crop a voice that echoed around the ballpark, "Hit one up here, ya bum! I dare ya!" Gehrig did exactly that, hitting a screaming line, practically into the heckler's lap, for the decisive game-winning home run. Shepherd's father was booed pitilessly, and he never again took junior Jean stick to a game. He apparently told this story key when Gehrig's widow was in the audience main a speaking engagement.^[][][]

His digital likeness and the cleft quote of the "baseball's Gettysburg Address" are featured in All Star Baseball ^[]

See also

References