This is a repost of a blog entry created July 4, 2008.
Sixty nine years ago today, Lou Gehrig said goodbye to baseball. Stricken with the early stages of ALS, Gehrig takes to the field at Yankee Stadium one last time. As you know, a great ballplayer who was part of those dynastic New York Yankees teams in the 1920s and 1930s.
Here's a tribute to him and the value of facing your adversity with a positive, conquering attitude.
Gehrig's Obituary
Only death could stop him
Below is the heft of the original obituary. Though Gehrig's death was grieved by many, the event was (as Gehrig's luck tended to go) overshadowed by a bigger international event - Kaiser Wilhelm, despised German emperor that played a key role in World War I, died the same day.
Printed in New York Times, June 3, 1941:
Gehrig, "Iron Man" Of Baseball, Dies at the Age of 37
Rare Disease Forced Famous Batter to Retire in 1939 - Played 2,130 Games in a Row
Set Many Hitting Marks
Native of New York, He Became Star of Yankees - Idol of Fans Throughout Nation
Lou Gehrig, former first baseman of the New York Yankees and one of the outstanding batsmen baseball has known, died at his home, 5204 Delafield Avenue, in the [Riverdale] section of the Bronx, last night. Death came to the erstwhile "Iron Man" at 10:10 o'clock. He would have been 38 years old on June 19.
Regarded by some observers as the greatest player ever to grace the diamond, Gehrig, after playing in 2,130 consecutive championship contests, was forced to end his career in 1939 when an ailment that had been hindering his efforts was diagnosed as a form of paralysis.
The disease was chronic, and for the last month Gehrig, had been confined to his home. He lost weight steadily during the final weeks and was reported twenty-five pounds under weight shortly before he died.
Member of Parole Board
Until his illness became more serious Gehrig went to his office regularly to perform his duties as a member of the New York City Parole Commission, a post he had held for a year and a half following his retirement from baseball. Ever hopeful that he would be able to conquer the rare disease - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a hardening of the spinal cord - although the ailment was considered incurable by many, Gehrig stopped going to his desk about a month ago to conserve his strength.
Two weeks ago he was confined to his bed, and from that time until his death, his condition grew steadily worse. He was conscious until just before the end. At the bedside when he died were his wife, the former Eleanor Twitchell of Chicago; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gehrig; his wife's mother, Mrs. Nellie Twitchell, and Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn.
It was said last night that funeral services would be private and would be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in the Christ Episcopal Church in Riverdale. The Rev. Gerald V. Barry will officiate.
The body was taken this morning to the E. Willis Scott Funeral Parlor at 4 West Seventy-sixth Street.
Record Spanned Fifteen Years
When Gehrig stepped into the batter's box as a pinch hitter for the Yankees on June 1, 1925, he started a record that many believe will never be equaled in baseball. From that day on he never missed a championship game until April 30, 1939 - fifteen seasons of Yankee box scores with the name of Gehrig always in the line-up. He announced on May 2, 1939, that he would not play that day, and thus his streak came to an end.
But as brilliant as was his career, Lou will be remembered for more than his endurance record. He was a superb batter in his heyday and a prodigious clouter of home runs. The record book is liberally strewn with his feats at the plate.
Sixty nine years ago today, Lou Gehrig said goodbye to baseball. Stricken with the early stages of ALS, Gehrig takes to the field at Yankee Stadium one last time. As you know, a great ballplayer who was part of those dynastic New York Yankees teams in the 1920s and 1930s.
Here's a tribute to him and the value of facing your adversity with a positive, conquering attitude.
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
I have been to ballparks for seventeen years and I have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day?
Sure I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t have considered it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins?
Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy?
Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat and vice versa, sends you a gift, that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in the white coats remember you with trophies, that’s something.
When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you 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 finest I know.
So I close by saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an an awful lot to live for. Thank you."
Sure I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t have considered it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins?
Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy?
Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat and vice versa, sends you a gift, that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in the white coats remember you with trophies, that’s something.
When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you 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 finest I know.
So I close by saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an an awful lot to live for. Thank you."
Gehrig's Obituary
Only death could stop him
Below is the heft of the original obituary. Though Gehrig's death was grieved by many, the event was (as Gehrig's luck tended to go) overshadowed by a bigger international event - Kaiser Wilhelm, despised German emperor that played a key role in World War I, died the same day.
Printed in New York Times, June 3, 1941:
Gehrig, "Iron Man" Of Baseball, Dies at the Age of 37
Rare Disease Forced Famous Batter to Retire in 1939 - Played 2,130 Games in a Row
Set Many Hitting Marks
Native of New York, He Became Star of Yankees - Idol of Fans Throughout Nation
Lou Gehrig, former first baseman of the New York Yankees and one of the outstanding batsmen baseball has known, died at his home, 5204 Delafield Avenue, in the [Riverdale] section of the Bronx, last night. Death came to the erstwhile "Iron Man" at 10:10 o'clock. He would have been 38 years old on June 19.
Regarded by some observers as the greatest player ever to grace the diamond, Gehrig, after playing in 2,130 consecutive championship contests, was forced to end his career in 1939 when an ailment that had been hindering his efforts was diagnosed as a form of paralysis.
The disease was chronic, and for the last month Gehrig, had been confined to his home. He lost weight steadily during the final weeks and was reported twenty-five pounds under weight shortly before he died.
Member of Parole Board
Until his illness became more serious Gehrig went to his office regularly to perform his duties as a member of the New York City Parole Commission, a post he had held for a year and a half following his retirement from baseball. Ever hopeful that he would be able to conquer the rare disease - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a hardening of the spinal cord - although the ailment was considered incurable by many, Gehrig stopped going to his desk about a month ago to conserve his strength.
Two weeks ago he was confined to his bed, and from that time until his death, his condition grew steadily worse. He was conscious until just before the end. At the bedside when he died were his wife, the former Eleanor Twitchell of Chicago; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gehrig; his wife's mother, Mrs. Nellie Twitchell, and Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn.
It was said last night that funeral services would be private and would be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in the Christ Episcopal Church in Riverdale. The Rev. Gerald V. Barry will officiate.
The body was taken this morning to the E. Willis Scott Funeral Parlor at 4 West Seventy-sixth Street.
Record Spanned Fifteen Years
When Gehrig stepped into the batter's box as a pinch hitter for the Yankees on June 1, 1925, he started a record that many believe will never be equaled in baseball. From that day on he never missed a championship game until April 30, 1939 - fifteen seasons of Yankee box scores with the name of Gehrig always in the line-up. He announced on May 2, 1939, that he would not play that day, and thus his streak came to an end.
But as brilliant as was his career, Lou will be remembered for more than his endurance record. He was a superb batter in his heyday and a prodigious clouter of home runs. The record book is liberally strewn with his feats at the plate.
1 comment:
Very good article, well written and very thought out.
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