On June 19, 1903 in New York, New York, a small child was born to the poor Heinrich and Christina Gehrig. This child would be the only child to survive out of four, thus starting the legend of the Iron Horse or by his real name, Henry Louis Gehrig. (“Britannica” 1)
Lou Gehrig was a great American hero because he continued to play major league baseball very well even with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) (“Lou Gehrig ”) and many other injuries; such as broken thumbs, fingers , teeth, and toes. Henry Louis Gehrig or his original name Ludwig Hienrich Gehrig (“Britannica” 1), was born on June 19, 1903 in the Harlem part of New York City. His parents were both German Immigrants and were very poor. (“Britannica” 1) His mom Christina Gehrig was a very hard working individual. She worked many jobs such as house keeper, maid, and restaurant server. Lou’s dad had trouble finding jobs since he was ill often. (“Great Athletes” 2) Surprisingly to many people Lou Gehrig played many sports when he was young. (“Great Athletes” 2 ) He was also a fat little kid surprisingly, but that didn’t discourage him from playing sports. He exceled in many sports such as swimming, sports skating, football, basketball, and most importantly baseball (“Great Athletes” 2) . In one instance, Lou Gehrig hit a game winning homerun at their high school championship and was called by news reporters as the “The Babe Ruth of high school”. (“Great Athletes” 4) After High school he got a football scholarship and attended Columbia University in 1921( “Lou Gehrig” 2). He eventually signed with the New York Yankees in 1923 and sat on the bench for two months (“Great Athletes”8 ). One June 2, 1925, starting first baseman Wally Pip had a mild headache and asked to take the day off. ...
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...jor injuries that would keep modern day players on the disabled list, he still played through them.
In conclusion, Lou Gehrig was and will always be an American hero to many people. His ability to play 2,130 consecutive games (“Great Athletes” 11) with many broken bones and other injuries is a feat that only a few will be able to accomplish. Not to mention the many awards and records the Iron horse has set and achieved. The people that had the opportunity to watch him play are very lucky. Not many players like Lou Heinrich Gehrig AKA the Iron Horse come along often.
Works Cited
“Lou Gehrig.” Britannica School. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 8 May 2014.
“Lou Gehrig.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Middle Search Plus. Web.8 may 2014
“Lou Gehrig.” Great Athletes (Salem Press) (2001): 831. Middle Search Plus. Web. 13 May 2014.
Babe Ruth is still a very well-known person in history today, even almost one-hundred years later. He did not only change the way people viewed negro baseball leagues, but he also gained a large reputation for his ability to play baseball, obviously due to his amazing abilities. Ruth’s ability to play was almost impossibly good, in fact, he was even titled “athlete of the century” for his ability. With that ability and power that he had once he won, he would become a
In “Jackie’s Debut: A Unique Day,” is written by Mike Royko, and appeared in the Chicago Daily News on Wednesday, October 15, 1972, the day after Jackie passed away. This article is about one of the most famous and cultural African Americans to ever play the game of baseball. In the beginning of the story, there were wise men sitting in the tavern that had something to say about Jackie. They weren’t the kindest words and said that he would ruin the game of baseball. Jackie was going to be at Wrigley Field and the kid had to see him perform. Him and his friend always walked to the baseball games to avoid streetcar fare. On that day, Wrigley Field was packed. He had never seen anything like it, there were about 47,000 people there and at the
Cal Ripken, Jr., was the perfect baseball player. He would play when he had the flu and even when he had a sprained ankle.
Born in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson moved with his mother and siblings to Pasadena, California in 1920, after his father deserted the family. At the University of California, Los Angeles, he was a star player of football, basketball, track, and baseball; the only athlete in UCLA history to letter in four different sports. He played with Kenny Washington, who would become one of the first black players in the National Football League since the early 1930s. Robinson also met his future wife, Rachel, at UCLA. His brother Matthew "Mack" Robinson (1912-2000) competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics, finishing second in the 200-meter sprint behind Jesse Owens.
For this rhetorical analysis paper I chose one of my favorite, and most famous, sports speeches of all time, Lou Gehrig’s farewell to baseball address. Lou Gehrig was a famous baseball player in the 1920’s and 30’s. Lou didn’t really need to use a attention getting introduction, he was well known and loved by so many that people piled into Yankee Stadium to watch and listen to him give this speech. Although he didn’t need an attention getter, he began his speech with one of the greatest baseball quotes of all time, “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.” (Gehrig, 1939) Every single time I hear or read that opening line it sends chills down my spine and stops me for a moment to reflect on everything that is going on in my own life.
During Graff’s childhood, he was not able to relate to readings that he was given in school. Instead, Graff was interested in baseball. Being that Graff was interested in baseball, he would often find himself reading books and magazines about baseball and baseball pla...
Jackie Robinson, born Jack Roosevelt Robinson, is known for being the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. He was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia as the grandson of a slave. He was the youngest of five children and at six months old his father left them. At this time, because it was so hard for African-Americans in the south, his mother Mallie Robinson decided to move them to Pasadena, California where it was easier for African-Americans to live and find jobs.
Throughout the course of American history, there have been copious amounts of famous speeches, spoken by many different people. From political figures to sports players; these people have provided deep thoughts and great insights about who they are and the world we live in today. Being a sports enthusiast, a memorable speech comes to my mind. Lou Gehrig’s “farewell speech”, given on July 4th, 1939, to more than 62,000 fans at New York City’s Yankee Stadium, has become a cornerstone in the history of baseball in America. Lou Gehrig is considered one of the most under-rated sports players of all time. Gehrig played in the same era with greats like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. In Fact, Gehrig played on the same team and actually batted behind Ruth and DiMaggio. Gehrig’s nickname is the “Iron Horse,” which came about with Gehrig’s amazing consecutive games played streak. Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games, which stood as the consecutive games record until just recently broken by Cal Ripken, Jr. Gehrig died in 1941, at the age of 37. Though many famous speeches have been spoken throughout time, Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech has remained one of the most memorable speeches of all time, due to the way he captivated his fans with the use of rhetoric.
Jackie Robinson’s ability to successfully integrate his sport set the stage for many others to advocate for an end to segregation in their respective environments. His period of trials and triumphs were significant to changing American perception of the Civil Rights revolution. By becoming the first African-American baseball player to play in the major leagues, he brought down an old misconception that black athletes were inferior to white athletes. Successively, his example would inspire those advocating for their civil rights, he lived out a message of nonviolence similar to the one Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived out. Despite the constant prejudice he faced in his sport, he was able to keep himself composed and never retaliate.
The Iron Horse’s consecutive game streak of 2,130 games easily makes him a legend and his hitting records and Triples crown puts that legend at number two on our list. When Lou Gehrig’s career was tragically caught short, by what is now comm...
Gehrig often said he wasn’t the spotlight kind of guy. He followed one of his teammates and personal friend Babe Ruth in batting order, but unlike the high-living Babe Ruth, Gehrig led a relatively retiring and frugal existence. His fame owed much too many Americans. At a time when the public increasingly found its heroes in the sports and entertainment worlds rather than in the arena of politics, "Columbia Lou" as he was often called represented the rags-to-riches saga in the Horatio Alger tradition. Although overshadowed by Ruth both as a pla...
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Georgia. On this day, a legend arrived. Jackie was raised by his mother, and his mother alone. His father left before Jackie was born, and he didn’t remember one thing about him. Jackie had many siblings, brothers and sisters. Jackie had an older brother named Matthew, who was also very athletic. Jackie’s mother tried the best she could to raise these boys right, and teach them that no matter what the whites called them...they were special.
Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Lou Gehrig, an exceptional baseball player for the New York Yankees from 1923-1939, conveys his positivity and accepting the manner in his farewell speech given at the Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, announcing his retirement. Two weeks prior his farewell speech, Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS disease that eventually destroyed and demolished his muscular structure and his career. Lou Gehrig stood in the field as friends, family, fans and colleagues listened intently to the compelling farewell speech. To further conclude, Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech, “The Luckiest Man,” revealed not only Lou Gehrig’s accepting and positive manner but also his exceptional use of rhetorical devices.
An African-American man who faced Racism and insult of White people. He was born in Cairo, Georgia. But, because his family were African American, he faced poverty, which cause him to live hard time, during childhood. In 1920, Robinson’s family decided to moveto Pasadena, California. When he went to school, Jackie got a lots of scout by a school coach. In high school, Jackie mastered most of the sports, like baseball, football.etc. After his graduation of his high school, Jackie went college in Pasadena. Two years later, he went to the UCLA. But because of his skin color, professional team didn’t scout him on their team. Also, lots of sports teams were segregated during 1930-1940. In 1941, he left the UCLA and help his mother. However, Jackie has to join army for WWII. After he came back in early 1945, Kansas City Monarchs scouted him, and decided to play baseball as his career. But, Because he didn’t play as professional Baseball player, He had to get use to play. However, Jackie already had all the necessary abilities for baseball. During the season, Boston Redsoxs proposed a contract with him. However, Because of the racism action by white people, the deal failed. Lots of sports teams also tried to transfer African American player to Major league. However he decided transfer to Los angeles Dodgers. During the game(in Dodgers), he had lots of insult by other players. However, he endures the
Simon, Scott. 2002. Jackie Robinson and the integration of Baseball. Turning points. Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley & Sons.