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Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1939. He was a seven-time World Series champion and a six-time All-Star.
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Lou Gehrig’s Early Life
Lou Gehrig was born in New York City in 1903. He played for the Yankees from 1923 until 1939. Gehrig was a six-time All-Star and won the MVP award in 1927. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
Lou Gehrig’s family
Lou Gehrig was born in 1903 in New York City. His parents, Heinrich and Christina Gehrig, were German immigrants. Heinrich worked as a butcher, and the family lived in a working-class neighborhood in Manhattan. Christina would later recalled that her husband was “a kind, good man” and that “he never had a cross word for anybody.”
As a child, Lou was small and shy. He was also an excellent student, and he loved baseball. He played sandlot baseball with other kids in his neighborhood, and he dreamed of one day playing for the New York Yankees.
In 1922, Lou’s dream came true when he was signed by the Yankees. He made his major league debut the following year, and he quickly established himself as one of the best players in baseball. He was nicknamed “the Iron Horse” for his durability, and he played in 2,130 consecutive games (a record that stood for more than 50 years).
Lou Gehrig was not only a great ballplayer, but he was also a decent man. He was humble and gracious, even when he was at the height of his fame. In 1939, he delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history when he announced that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal illness that would eventually claim his life. Even though he knew he was dying, Lou Gehrig continued to live his life with dignity and courage. He passed away two years after his diagnosis, at the age of 37.
Lou Gehrig’s education
Born in New York City in 1903, Gehrig was a natural athlete. As a youngster, he played sandlot ball and excelled in every sport he tried, especially baseball and football. His parents encouraged his athletic endeavors, but they also insisted that he get a good education. Gehrig attended public schools in Manhattan, and then went on to play football at Columbia University. He also played baseball for Columbia, but he was not satisfied with the quality of play in collegiate baseball. So, Gehrig decided to leave school after his junior year and pursue a career in professional baseball.
Lou Gehrig’s Professional Career
Lou Gehrig played for the Yankees from 1923 until 1939. He was a 7-time All-Star and won 6 World Series titles with the team. Gehrig is considered one of the greatest first basemen of all time.
Lou Gehrig’s minor league career
Lou Gehrig played in the minor leagues for two years before being called up to the New York Yankees in 1923. He started his professional career with the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League in 1921. In 1922, he was transferred to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, where he played until he was called up by the Yankees.
Lou Gehrig’s major league career
Lou Gehrig played his entire professional baseball career with the New York Yankees, from 1923 to 1939. He was a part of six World Series winning teams and was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player seven times. Gehrig also set several Major League Baseball records during his career, including most consecutive games played (2,130), most career grand slams (23), and most seasons played (22).
Despite his success on the field, Gehrig’s career came to an abrupt end in 1939 when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He died two years later at the age of 37.
Lou Gehrig’s retirement
In 1939, Gehrig began to experience the first symptoms of the disease that would come to bear his name. He started the season strong, batting .295 with nine homers and 26 RBI in the first 41 games. But then he inexplicably went into a slump and his production steadily declined over the next few months. By mid-season, it was apparent to teammates and fans alike that something was wrong with Gehrig. He finally took himself out of the lineup on May 2 and was never again to play as a Yankee. The following day, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. There is no cure for ALS, which slowly robs its victims of the ability to move their muscles and eventually leads to paralysis and death.
Lou Gehrig’s Later Life
Lou Gehrig played for the Yankees from 1923-1939. He was forced to retire in 1939 due to his battle with ALS. Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Lou Gehrig’s health problems
Lou Gehrig first started showing symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1938, when he began having trouble with his balance and coordination. He slumped over in the batter’s box during a game against the Detroit Tigers that year, and was later diagnosed with the disease.
The following year, Gehrig’s health rapidly deteriorated. He started having trouble dressing himself and buttoning his shirt. He had to be helped off the field on multiple occasions. He missed almost the entire 1939 season due to his illness.
In 1940, Lou Gehrig made a comeback of sorts. He played in only 13 games that season, but he hit three home runs in those games. He was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player that year, even though he had played in less than half of his team’s games.
Gehrig continued to decline after that, however. He became increasingly frail and weak. He stopped playing baseball altogether in April of 1941. In June of that year, he made his famous “Luckiest Man” speech at Yankee Stadium. Just two months later, on August 2, 1941, Lou Gehrig died from ALS at the age of 37.
Lou Gehrig’s death
Lou Gehrig’s death is one of the most infamous moments in baseball history. Gehrig, who had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), was forced to retire from baseball in 1939. Two years later, on June 2, 1941, Gehrig passed away at the age of 37. His death brought an outpouring of support from the baseball community and fans around the world.
