You lived through a childhood filled with poverty, and you were the only child in your family to survive infancy (Lougehrig.com). Was it lonely and hard for you?
Your parents struggled to support the family; you had to watch your alcoholic father struggle to find work, while your mom, Christina, worked hard as a housemaid for wealthy families to make money for your entire family (Lougehrig.com). She caringly put a lot of effort into helping you get an excellent education and athletic experience (Lougehrig.com).
Thank goodness for her efforts because they paid off. You went to Columbia University to study engineering, which is where I would like to go to and what I would like to study (Lougehrig.com). I also just visited there over Thanksgiving break and I loved the campus! (Sorry, the sun was in my eyes)
Additionally, you were a star pitcher and hitter on the baseball team, something I would aspire to too (Lougehrig.com). You’re my perfect role model, because I would like to follow your exact path in college.
Your success on the Columbia baseball team attracted scouts from the New York Yankees. You were offered a $1,500 signing bonus, which allowed you to help your family move to have a better lifestyle in the suburbs (Lougehrig.com).
I think its amazing and inspiring that you used the money to save your family from a poverty-filled life, when you could have spent it on yourself.
You were able to play through lots of injuries. You were able to play with a broken thumb. Also a broken toe! You didn’t let back spasms stop you from playing. Doctors even later discovered that 17 different bones had been fractured and healed throughout his playing time. Its no surprise that people nicknamed you, “The Iron Horse” (Lougehrig.com). Here's a photo of you walking off the field with a head injury:
You led the Yankees to six world series championships, which makes me kind of hate you since I’m a Red Sox fan, and you led the MLB in many statistical categories for many years, which actually lets you off the hook (a little) (Lougehrig.com).
During your amazing career, you were good friends, but were overshadowed by the great Babe Ruth, because of his statistics and rambunctious personality (biography.com). Here are some pictures of you guys, two of the best baseball players of all time:
Despite this, you always remained in good spirits about it. When asked what it was like to be in Babe Ruth’s shadow, you responded, “It’s a pretty big shadow. It gives me room to spread myself. Sadly, rivalry between you and Ruth got vey bad. At one point you two had a falling out and didn’t exchange words for six years (biography.com).
You had multiple hall of fame worthy seasons, but that unfortunately changed in 1938. Off to a horrible start during the season, your body was failing you (Lougehrig.com). I can only imagine what it would be like to watch you body deteriorate for no known reason.
Eventually you were unable to perform simple daily tasks, such as tying your shoelaces. You then went to multiple doctors at the Mayo Clinic, where you were finally given an answer, but not one that you liked. You were diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terrible disease that prevents nerve cells from interacting with muscles. It later became known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” (Lougehrig.com).
This is what someone with ALS looks like. This is Stephen Hawking, another very famous person who had it:
Your legendary streak of 2,130 games came to an end on May 2, 1939 when you finally gave in and could not play. You soon retired two months later, with an amazing day to come on July 4th: Yankees honored you by giving you an appreciation day. Over 62,000 of your biggest fans came to see you give one of the most emotional and touching speeches in sports history. One thing you said during your speech is a very famous quote: "I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth." (biography.com)
Tears were shed all over the stadium as Babe Ruth put his arm around Gehrig and talked to him for the first time since 1934 (biography.com).
That upcoming December was a very special month for you as well. You were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and you were so special that you were the first player to ever have their number retired (biography.com).
Not only were you an amazing person on the field, but you did things to give back to the community off the field as well. The mayor of New York asked you to join the parole board, where you were set to serve a ten year term and do work to help troubled children (biography.com).
Later that year, grief spread all over America as you finally gave in to ALS on June 2nd (biography.com).
You will forever be remembered for your humble and good hearted personality and positive attitude you always showed (biography.com). You have inspired many people today, whether it is in baseball, school, or joining the fight against ALS.
But most importantly, you have inspired one person that anything is possible from where you started off, me.
Works Cited
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De Luca, Chris. "Ghost Town: Cooperstown Preparing for Its Oddest Induction Weekend Ever." Voices. Voices, 18 July 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/ghost-town-cooperstown-preparing-for-its-oddest-induction-weekend-ever/>.
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