It was 70 years ago today that Lou Gehrig made his farewell speech to baseball, in-between games of a doubleheader on July 4. 1939, at Yankee Stadium. He was dying from an incurable disease called ALS, which has more commonly become known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Today, MLB will remember Lou at all ballparks with the speech, remembered as the "luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech, at all games today. All players are wearing a patch in Gehrig's memory: "4 ALS." (4 being his number, of course.)
Lou Gehrig, "The Iron Horse," was a man of incredible class and grace, and it is right that he is remembered today. He died in June of 1941, just days short of his 38th birthday. I also remember all other victims of that dreaded disease, including my uncle, Bill Reilly, who passed away from it in August 2003 at the young age of 57.
We miss you, Uncle Billy.
Here is a clip from YouTube of Lou Gehrig's farewell:
2 comments:
The 1st # ever retired by the NY Yankees was Gehrig's #4:
Henry Louis Gehrig is a Native New Yorker. The Man who broke his Iron Man Streak, Cal Ripkin Jr, hailed from the Areas adjoining Baltimore,MD;
& my condolences on Bill Reilly's passing.
Thank you Michael.
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