Lou Gehrig

From Turtledove

Lou Gehrig
Historical Figure
Timeline:	OTL
Nationality:	United States
Religion:	Lutheran
Date of Birth:	1903
Date of Death:	1941
Cause of Death:	Motor neurone disease (subsequently referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease")
Occupation:	Professional baseball player
Spouse:	Eleanor
Affiliations:	New York Yankees
Timeline:	The War That Came Early
Appearance(s):	Hitler's War (referenced)
Appearance(s):	The Center Cannot Hold
Occupation:	Professional football player
Affiliations:	Philadelphia Barrels

Lou Gehrig (1903-1941) was the starting first baseman of the New York Yankees from 1925 to 1939, during which period he started 2130 consecutive games, a record for durability which stood for decades. Over his career he had a .340 batting average and 493 home runs, which were good for second place on the all-time home run list behind only his teammate Babe Ruth at the time of his retirement. 23 of his home runs were grand slams, a record which stands today. Gehrig led the American League in hitting in 1934, led in home runs three times, was a seven-time All-Star (in fact he was named to every AL All-Star Team from the first inception of the Midsummer Classic in 1933 through his retirement in 1939), was MVP in 1927 and 1936, won seven World Series with the Yankees, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame immediately upon his retirement, in 1939.

Gehrig's career ended abruptly and prematurely in 1939 when he contracted the incurable neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The disease caused Gehrig to die at the young age of 37 despite his always having been an exemplar of excellent physical fitness and, unlike some of his contemporary players, a practitioner of a scrupulously healthy lifestyle. The Yankees held Lou Gehrig Day on July 4, 1939, and he delivered a short but legendary address expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to play for the Yankees, describing himself as "the luckiest man on the face of the earth" and ending by saying "I may have gotten a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for." On that day he became the first athlete in the history of all of professional sports to have his uniform number (4) retired.

[edit] Lou Gehrig in The War That Came Early

In 1938, Lou Gehrig's batting average for the season was .295. It was his first time hitting below .300 since his first full year as a Major League player, 1925, when he also hit .295. This led Herman Szulc to suggest to Pete McGill that Gehrig was past prime and entering into a decline as a player. He believed Gehrig would continue to slow down and as a result the New York Yankees would suffer in the 1939 season. McGill brushed the suggestion aside, claiming Gehrig had just had a slightly off year and would return to his usual excellence in 1939, and that even if he didn't the Yankees would still be the team to beat.

In fact, Gehrig's slowdown in 1938 was caused by the early effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

[edit] Lou Gehrig in Southern Victory

Lou Gehrig was a great football player for the Philadelphia Barrels in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1932, a reporter remarked that his salary was higher than that of the President of the United States, Hosea Blackford. Gehrig replied "I had a better year than he did."