Lou Gehrig's Story

Lou Gehrig was an American hero because of his skill and performance on the baseball field. He is also known to non-sports enthusiasts because of his tragic early death fromALS.

Gehrig's was known for his consecutive game streak of 2,130 games. During this run, he played every day despite a broken thumb, a broken toe and back spasms. It earned him the nickname "Iron Horse."

During his career, he played with and against both Babe Ruth and DiMaggio. In 1928, he tied Ruth for the RBI lead with142 and put on quite a show in the World Series. Despite being walked sixtimes, Gehrig hit .545. On June 3, 1932, Gehrig became the first American Leaguer to hit four home runs in a game.

His lifetime batting average was .340, the 15th all-time highest. During his career, Gehrig averaged147 RBI's a season. Gehrig won the Triple Crown in 1934, with a .363 average, 49 homers and 165 RBI and was chosen "Most Valuable Player" more than once. Despite his towering size, he stole home 15 times in his career. He played in 34 World Series games and batted .361 with 10 homers, eight doubles and 35 RBI's. He also holds the record for career grandslams at 23. He hit 73 three-run homers and 166 two-run shots, giving him the highest average of RBI per homer of any player with more than 300 home runs.

For two years after the Yankees recaptured the title in 1936, DiMaggio andGehrig dominated the league. The Yankees began a four-season dynasty that includedwinning four World Series and losing only three games out of nineteen. In 1936,Gehrig led the league in home runs and runs scored.

In 1938, Gehrig's playing suffered and it was clear that there was something wrong. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed Gehrig with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerois (ALS), which is now called Lou Gehrig's disease in the United States. He did not play baseball again.

July 4, 1939 was declared "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium. More than 62,000 fans came to honor him. As Gehrig stood on the field at Yankee Stadium with the 1927 and 1939 Yankees, he made the famous speech, "...Today, I consider myself, the luckiest man on the face of the earth." Gehrig was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame that December.

On June 2, 1941, Lou Gehrig died of ALS.

Strong, active, seemingly healthy people can be struck with ALS. You too can be an American hero and help us find a cure for this disease that can affect anyone. Give $10 or more on your 2011 California taxes, line 414.