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Henry Louis ("Lou") Gehrig (June 19 1903 – June 2 1941), born Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig, was one of the most outstanding American baseball players of the twentieth century, setting more than a score of Major League and American League records and voted the greatest first baseman of all-time by the Baseball Writers' Association.[1] His record for most career grand slam home runs (23) still stands today. A native of New York City, he played for the New York Yankees until his career was tragically cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), now commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Gehrig was known as "The Iron Horse" for his durability. Over a 14 year span between 1925 and 1939, he played in 2,130 consecutive games. The streak was broken when Gehrig became disabled with the fatal neuromuscular disease that would eventually claim his life just two years later. His streak, long believed to be one of baseball's few unbreakable records, stood for 56 years until finally broken by Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles on September 6, 1995.
His popularity with fans endures to this day, as is evidenced by his being the leading vote getter on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, chosen in 1999.
Early lifeLou Gehrig was born in the Yorkville section of Manhattan, the son of poor German immigrants Heinrich Gehrig and Christina Fack. His father worked as a janitor but was frequently unemployed due to epilepsy, so his mother was the breadwinner and disciplinarian. Both parents considered baseball to be a schoolyard game; his domineering mother steered young Lou toward a career in architecture because an uncle in Germany was a financially successful architect.[2] Gehrig attended Columbia University, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He could not play intercollegiate baseball for the Lions because he played baseball for a summer professional league during his freshman year. At the time, he was unaware that doing so jeopardized his eligibility to play any collegiate sport. Gehrig was ruled eligible to play on the Lions' football team and was a standout fullback. Gehrig first garnered national attention for his baseball talents while playing in a game at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) on June 26 1920. Gehrig's New York School of Commerce team was playing a team from Chicago's Lane Tech High School. With his team winning 8-6 in the eighth inning, Gehrig hit a grand slam completely out of the Major League ballpark, an unheard-of feat for a 17-year old high school boy.[3] Major League Baseball CareerImage:Gehrig time.jpg Gehrig and Carl Hubbell on 1936 Time Magazine cover
Gehrig's breakout season would come in 1926. He batted .313 with 47 doubles, an American League leading 20 triples, 16 home runs, and 112 RBIs. In the 1926 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Gehrig hit .348 with two doubles and 4 RBI's. Still, the Cardinals won a seven-game Series, winning four games to three. In 1927 Gehrig put up one of the greatest seasons by any batter. That year, Gehrig hit .373 batting average, with 218 hits, 52 doubles, 20 triples, 47 home runs, 175 runs batted in, and .765 slugging average. His 117 extra-base hits that season are second all-time to Babe Ruth’s 119 extra base hits and his 447 total bases are third all-time to Babe Ruth's 457 total bases in 1921 and Rogers Hornsby's 450 in 1922. Gehrig's great season helped the 1927 Yankees to a 110-44 record, the AL pennant, and a 4-game sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. Although the AL recognized his season by naming him league MVP, his season was overshadowed by Babe Ruth’s 60 home run season and the overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often cited as the greatest team of all-time. Gehrig established himself as a bona fide star in his own right despite playing in the omnipresent shadow of Ruth for two-thirds of his career. Gehrig became one of the greatest run producers in baseball history. His record of 500+ RBIs over any 3 seasons has not been reached by any other player in baseball history and Gehrig did this in 3 consecutive seasons. He had 6 seasons where he batted .350 or better (with a high of .379 in 1930), 8 seasons with 150 or more RBI's, and 11 seasons with over 100 walks, 8 seasons with 200 or more hits, and 5 seasons with more than 40 home runs. He led the American League in runs scored 4 times, home runs 3 times, and RBIs 5 times; his 184 RBIs in 1931 is still an American League record (and second all-time to Hack Wilson's 191 RBI's in 1930). Image:Ruth Gehrig WPt.jpg Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in exhibition game at West Point, NY (May 6, 1927) During the 10 seasons (1925-1934) in which Gehrig and Ruth were both Yankees and played a majority of games, Gehrig only had more home runs in 1934, when he hit 49 compared to Ruth’s 22. (Ruth played 125 games that year.) They tied at 46 in 1931. Ruth had 424 homers compared to Gehrig’s 347, some 22.2% more. Gehrig had more RBIs in 7 years (1925, 1927, 1930-1934) and they tied in 1928. Ruth had 1316 RBIs compared to Gehrig’s 1436, with Gehrig having 9.9% more. Gehrig had more hits in 8 years (1925, 1927-28, 1930-34). Gehrig had a higher slugging percentage in 2 years (1933-34). And Gehrig had a higher batting average in 7 years (1925, 1927-28, 1930, 1932-34). For that span, Gehrig had a .343 batting average, compared to .338 for Ruth. He hit four home runs in a game in 1932 against the Philadelphia Athletics. After the game, Manager Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take today away from you..." But, as luck would have it, on that same day John McGraw chose to announce his retirement after 30 years of managing the New York Giants, and so McGraw, not Gehrig, got the headlines in the sports sections the next day. (Source: Baseball's Unforgettable Games (1960, by Joe Reichler and Ben Olan.) In September 1933, Gehrig married Eleanor Twitchell, the daughter of Chicago Parks Commissioner Frank Twitchell. In a 1936 World Series cover story about Lou Gehrig and Carl Hubbell, Time magazine proclaimed Gehrig "the game's No. 1 batsman", who "takes boyish pride in banging a baseball as far, and running around the bases as quickly, as possible".[4] 2,130 consecutive gamesOn June 1 1925, Gehrig was sent in to pinch hit for light-hitting shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger. The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins started Gehrig in place of regular first baseman Wally Pipp. Pipp was in a slump, as were the Yankees as a team, so Huggins made several lineup changes to boost their performance. No one could have imagined that 14 years later Gehrig would still be there, playing day after day through injury and illness. In a few instances, Gehrig managed to keep the streak intact through pinch hitting appearances and fortuitous timing; in others, the streak continued despite injuries. Late in life, X-rays disclosed that Gehrig had sustained a number of fractures during his playing career. Some examples:
Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played stood until September 6 1995, when Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game to establish a new record. The monumental event occurred in Baltimore, which shares some coincidences with the Yankees:
His illnessAt the midpoint of the 1938 season, Gehrig's performance began to diminish. At the end of that season, he said, "I tired midseason. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get going again." Although his final 1938 stats were respectable (.295 batting average, 114 RBI's, 170 hits, .523 slugging percentage, 758 plate appearances with only 75 strikeouts, and 29 home runs), it was a dramatic drop from his 1937 season (when he batted .351 and slugged at .643). When the Yankees began their 1939 spring training in St. Petersburg, Florida, it was obvious that Gehrig no longer possessed his once-formidable power. Even Gehrig's baserunning was affected. Throughout his career, Gehrig was considered an excellent runner on the basepaths, but as the 1939 season got underway, his coordination and speed had deteriorated significantly. By the end of April, his statistics were the worst of his career, with just 1 RBI and an anemic .143 batting average. Fans and the press openly speculated on Gehrig's abrupt decline. James Kahn, a reporter who wrote often about Gehrig, said in one article:
Joe McCarthy was facing increasing pressure from Yankee management to switch Gehrig to a part-time role, but he could not bring himself to do it. Things came to a head when Gehrig had to struggle to make a routine put-out at first base. The pitcher, Johnny Murphy, had to wait for Gehrig to drag himself over to the bag so he could catch Murphy's throw. Murphy said, "Nice play, Lou." That was the thing Gehrig dreaded — his teammates felt they had to congratulate him on simple chores like put-outs, like older brothers patting their little brother on the head. On April 30, Gehrig went hitless against the weak Washington Senators. Gehrig had just played his 2,130th consecutive major league game. On May 2, the next game after a day off, Gehrig approached McCarthy before the game and said, "I'm benching myself, Joe." McCarthy acquiesced and put Ellsworth "Babe" Dahlgren in at first base, and also said that whenever Gehrig wanted to play again, the position was his. Gehrig himself took the lineup card out to the shocked umpires before the game, ending the amazing 14-year stamina streak. Before the game began, the stadium announcer told the fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time Lou Gehrig's name will not appear on the Yankee lineup in 2,130 consecutive games." The Detroit fans gave Gehrig a standing ovation while he sat on the bench with tears in his eyes. Gehrig stayed with the Yankees as Team Captain for a few more weeks, but never played baseball again. Diagnosis of ALSAs Lou Gehrig's debilitation became steadily worse, Eleanor called the famed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her call was immediately transferred to Dr. Charles William Mayo, who had been following Gehrig's career and his mysterious loss of strength. Dr. Mayo told Eleanor to bring Gehrig as soon as possible. Eleanor and Lou flew to Rochester from Chicago, where the Yankees were playing at the time, arriving at the Mayo Clinic on June 13, 1939. After six days of extensive testing at Mayo Clinic, the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS") was confirmed on June 19, Gehrig's 36th birthday.[5] The prognosis was grim: rapidly increasing paralysis, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, and a life expectancy of fewer than three years, although there would be no impairment of mental functions. Gehrig was probably told that the cause of ALS was unknown but it was painless, non-contagious and cruel — the nervous system was destroyed but the mind remains intact. In a letter Gehrig wrote to "break the news" to Eleanor, he said (in part):
Following Gehrig's visit to the Mayo Clinic, he briefly rejoined the Yankees in Washington, DC. As his train pulled into Union Station, he was greeted by a group of Boy Scouts, happily waving and wishing him luck. Gehrig waved back, but leaned forward to his companion, a reporter, and said, "They're wishing me luck - and I'm dying."[5] "The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth"On June 21, the New York Yankees announced Gehrig's retirement and proclaimed July 4 1939 "Lou Gehrig Day" at Yankee Stadium. Between games of the Independence Day doubleheader against the Washington Senators, the poignant ceremonies were held on the diamond. Dozens of people, including many from other major league teams, came forward to give Gehrig gifts and to shower praise on the dying slugger. The 1927 World Championship banner, from Gehrig's first World Series win, was raised on the flagpole, and the members of that championship team, known as "Murderer's Row", attended the ceremonies. New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and the Postmaster General were among the notable speakers, as was Babe Ruth. Joe McCarthy, struggling to control his emotions, then spoke of Lou Gehrig, with whom there was a close, almost father and son-like bond. After describing Gehrig as "the finest example of a ballplayer, sportsman, and citizen that baseball has ever known", McCarthy could stand it no longer. Turning tearfully to Gehrig, the manager said, "Lou, what else can I say except that it was a sad day in the life of everybody who knew you when you came into my hotel room that day in Detroit and told me you were quitting as a ballplayer because you felt yourself a hindrance to the team. My God, man, you were never that." The Yankees retired Gehrig's uniform number "4", making him the first player in history to be afforded that honor. Gehrig was given many gifts, commemorative plaques, and trophies. Some came from VIPs; others came from the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff. The Yankees gave him a silver trophy with their signatures engraved on it. Inscribed on the front was a special poem written by New York Times writer John Kieran. The trophy cost only about $5, but it became one of Gehrig's most prized possessions.[6] After the presentations, Gehrig took a few moments to compose himself, then approached the microphone, and addressed the crowd:
The crowd stood and applauded for almost two minutes. Gehrig was visibly shaken as he stepped away from the microphone, and wiped the tears away from his face with his handkerchief.[6] Babe Ruth came over and hugged him, in a memorable moment forever engraved in baseball lore (see photo, above). Later that year, the Baseball Writers Association elected Lou Gehrig to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, waiving the mandatory five-year waiting period. At age 36, he was the youngest player to be so honored. The final years after baseball"Don't think I am depressed or pessimistic about my condition at present," Lou Gehrig wrote following his retirement from baseball. Struggling against his ever worsening physical condition, he added, "I intend to hold on as long as possible and then if the inevitable comes, I will accept it philosophically and hope for the best. That's all we can do."[5] Image:Lou Gehrig.jpg Gehrig plaque and number in centerfield at Yankee Stadium. In October 1939, he accepted Mayor LaGuardia's appointment to a ten-year term as a New York City Parole Commissioner. Behind the glass door to his office, lettered "Commissioner Gehrig", he met with many poor and struggling people of all races, religions, and ages, some of whom would complain that they just "got a bad break." Gehrig never scolded them or preached about what a "bad break" really was. He visited New York City's correctional facilities, but insisted that they not be covered by news media. To avoid any appearance of grandstanding, Gehrig made sure his listing on letterhead, directories, and publications read simply, "Henry L. Gehrig".[7] On June 2 1941 at 10:10 p.m., 16 years to the day after he replaced Wally Pipp at first base, Henry Louis Gehrig died at his home at 5204 Delafield Avenue in Riverdale, The Bronx. He was 37 years old. Upon hearing the news, Babe Ruth and his wife Claire immediately left their Riverside Drive apartment on Manhattan's upper west side and went to the Gehrig's house to console Eleanor. Mayor LaGuardia ordered flags in New York to be flown at half-staff and Major League ballparks around the nation did likewise.[8] Following the funeral at Christ Episcopal Church of Riverdale, Gehrig's remains were cremated and interred on June 4 at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. As a coincidence, Lou Gehrig and Ed Barrow are both interred in the same section of Kensico Cemetery, which is next door to Gate of Heaven Cemetery, where the graves of Babe Ruth and Billy Martin are located. Image:Lou Gehrig best 800.jpg Lou Gehrig's headstone in Kensico Cemetery Oddly, although Lou Gehrig was born in 1903, his headstone incorrectly lists his birthyear as 1905, an error which has never been corrected. Eleanor Gehrig never remarried following her husband's passing, dedicating the rest of her life to supporting ALS research.[3] She joined Lou Gehrig in death on March 6, 1984, her 80th birthday. The Yankees dedicated a monument to Gehrig in centerfield at Yankee Stadium on July 6, 1941, the shrine lauding him as, "A man, a gentleman and a great ballplayer whose amazing record of 2,130 consecutive games should stand for all time." Gehrig's monument joined the one placed there in 1932 to Miller Huggins, which would eventually be followed by Babe Ruth's in 1949. Upon Gehrig's monument rests an actual bat used by him, now bronzed. Gehrig's birthplace in Manhattan on East 94th Street (between 1st and Second Avenues) is memorialized with a plaque marking the site. The Gehrig's house at 5204 Delafield Ave. in the Bronx where Lou Gehrig died still stands today on the east side of the Henry Hudson Parkway and is likewise marked by a plaque. Accomplishments: records, awards, and distinctions
Major League Baseball career records
Major League Baseball single season records
Major League Baseball single game records
Awards
Other distinctions
On film
References
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