Lou Gehrig: The Iron Horse

Words: 1900
Pages: 8
Open Document
Lou Gehrig, the greatest first baseman of all time. The Iron Horse, former holder of the most consecutive games played streak at 2,130 games (Graham 5). There are so many ways in which one can introduce this great man. He was a man with many different talents and a very different personality. Lou wasn’t the ordinary super star like most would imagine. He was so quiet, shy and considerate that one wouldn’t know he was so famous (Graham 5). Gehrig was an inspiration to to all men, women, and children alike. Through his life, he has shown what true hard work, dedication, and success is composed of. June 19, 1903 was the day it all began, Lou’s birthday. Being a middle child he would have had it rough, but he was the only one of four kids to …show more content…
That being said, many people did not consider him the best player in his high school which seems almost unbelievable. Throughout the years he played every position he could (not everything because he was left handed) but, was amazing at any sport or position he played (Graham 11). Young Gehrig decided that he would take his talents to Columbia University on a football scholarship. Columbia was so close that it was a no brainer for the family and Lou. They even had a connection with the Bobby Watt, a worker with the Athletic department who had given the Heinrich and Christina jobs early in Lou’s life (Graham 20). The summer before his freshman year in college, the New York Giants contacted young Lou and offered him a spot on a summer league team for a little extra money for the family. Who wouldn’t have turned down the offer after they were told it would be harmless? He played under the name Henry Lewis but didn’t expect to be caught (lougehrig.com, 2014). If he was caught he would have to forfeit his amateur status for a whole year and not play college sports. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very lucky and someone had found out, so Gehrig did not get to play football or baseball for a whole year at Columbia (Hermann, 2016). Once he reached his sophomore year he began to become a household name. You would go around the school and students would be calling the young man “Columbia Lou” every chance they got …show more content…
He didn’t have the same power and batted under .300 for the first time in over 10 years (lougehrig.com, 2014). In 1939, Lou decided to finally pull himself out of the lineup ending the games played streak and he decided to seek help. That year he went to the highly esteemed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. There he awaited the news that nobody before him had dealt with in such a spotlight as his. The Iron Horse was not able to play forever like some thought. He was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. This disease basically weakens and deteriorates the body until the infected individual becomes a vegetable and dies (alsa.org, 2014). It takes away the simple things in life such as pushing brakes in your car or even walking. People start to shuffle until they get to the point of not being able to walk at all (Albom
Show More

Related Documents: Lou Gehrig: The Iron Horse

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Muscular Atrophy: an Annotated Bibliography Essay examples

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Muscular Atrophy: An Annotated Bibliography Abramovitz, Melissa. "Lou Gehrig's Disease" p17-61. Treatment for ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease has found that Vitamin E and the drug known as Riluzole can help the progression of the disease. When taking the medication Riluzole it has shown to prolong survival in patients by two to three months and it has also delayed the use for breathing support. There is a few side effects to taking Riluzole, such as headache, dizziness…

Words 1406 - Pages 6

Murderers Row Research Paper

by murderers row, “Those fellows not only beat you, but they tear your heart out.” The Yankees lineup was very dangerous, but the nickname was given to six of the eight position players in the hitting lineup. Murderers row consisted of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Bob Meusel, Earle Combs, and Mark Koenig. Pat Collins and Joe Dugan were also apart of the lineup, but were less noticeable. That lineup lead the league in multiple categories, and four of the six mentioned are in the hall of fame…

Words 1249 - Pages 5