Lou Gehrig

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Lore & Background

A native of New York City and a student at Columbia University, Gehrig signed with the Yankees on April 29, 1923. He set several major-league records during his career, including the most career grand slams (23; since broken by Alex Rodriguez) and most consecutive games played (2,130), a record that stood for 56 years and was considered unbreakable until Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it in 1995. Gehrig's consecutive game streak ended on May 2, 1939, when he voluntarily took himself out of the lineup, stunning both players and fans, after his performance in the field had become hampered by an undiagnosed ailment; it was subsequently confirmed to be amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neuromuscular illness that since then is sometimes referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease" in the United States. Gehrig never played again and retired in 1939 at age 36. Two weeks later, the ball club held a Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day on July 4, 1939, at the close of which he delivered his speech declaring himself the "luckiest man on the face of the earth" at Yankee Stadium. Two years later, Gehrig died of complications from ALS. In 1969, the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted Gehrig the greatest first baseman of all time, and he was the leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team, chosen by fans in 1999. A monument in Gehrig's honor, originally dedicated by the Yankees in 1941, prominently features in Monument Park at the new Yankee Stadium. The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is given annually to the MLB player who best exhibits Gehrig's integrity and character.

In Their Own Story

On June 3, 1932, Gehrig became the first player in the 20th century to hit four home runs in a game, accomplishing the feat against the Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park. He narrowly missed hitting a fifth home run when Athletics center fielder Al Simmons made a leaping catch of another fly ball at the center-field fence. Following the game, Yankees manager Joe McCarthy told him, "Well, Lou, nobody can take today away from you." On the same day, however, John McGraw announced his retirement. Gehrig's production helped the 1927 Yankees to a 110–44 record, the AL pennant (by 19 games) and a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. Although the AL recognized his season by naming him league MVP, Gehrig's accomplishments were overshadowed by Ruth's record-breaking sixty home runs and the overall dominance of the 1927 Yankees, a team often cited as having the greatest lineup of all time, the famed "Murderers' Row."

Reader's Guide

Gehrig's consecutive game streak ended on May 2, 1939, when he voluntarily took himself out of the lineup. The ball club held a Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day on July 4, 1939, about two months later. In 1927, Gehrig set a then-record 175 RBIs, surpassing Babe Ruth's 168 RBIs from six years earlier (the source states Ruth's total as 168, not 171).

Did You Know?

• Gehrig's 117 extra-base hits in 1927 are second all-time to Ruth's 119 in 1921.
• Gehrig hit a grand slam completely out of Wrigley Field at age 17 in a high school game.
• Gehrig was the first MLB player to have his uniform number retired by a team.