Lou Gehrig Speech

The End of the Iron Horse

We today said goodbye to one of the best to play the game of baseball, After playing 2130 consecutive games Lou Gehrig official called it quits. As a great day for baseball became a joyous celebration for the dying Lou Gehrig, What would have been a perfect day turned into questions about the relationship between Gehrig and former Yankee teammate Babe Ruth, Babe was scheduled to be a speaker at the ceremony to talk place between today's double header between the Yankees and the Washington senators at the newly built Yankee Stadium, What was noticeable was that their was tension between Lou and Babe. We know they have a history together including the Babe saying that Lou need to sit down at one point and go fishing. Why would Babe say that about a good friend? And has Lou every really been able to let go of that fact?

As for the ceremony it was quiet a spectacle with former players and the mayor of New York and other individuals that really had no reason to be on the field during the ceremony, I am not sure why he got awards from the grounds crew and other business from outside the ball park, He did receive a silver trophy from the team with all the signatures of the team that was presented by his manager Joe McCarthy, As for Lou taking the microphone it almost didn’t happen, Visibly emotional and flustered it was Sid Mercer who spoke for him and stated that Lou wanted to “ Thank all of you, He is too moved to speak”. They began to walk away and the crowd began to chant “We Want Gehrig” Moments later Lou Gehrig faced his fears and addressed the crowd of 62,000 fans by giving what is nothing more a heart felt goodbye from a baseball player at heart and an Iron Man in life. These words will live for ever.

"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 in ballparks for 17 years and 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 consider it an honor to have known Jacob Rupert; 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 white coats remember you with trophies - that's something.

When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles against her own daughter - that's something. When you have a father and mother who works 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 in saying that I might have had a tough break; but I have an awful lot to live for."