Lou Gehrig

www.alsa.org (The ALS Association)

"What are you going to do? Admit to yourself that the pitchers have you on the point of surrender? You can't do that. You must make yourself think that the pitchers are just as good as they always have been or just as bad." -Lou Gehrig. These words were said by Lou Gehrig, who was a man who gave his whole life pursuing his dream to play baseball. Lou Gehrig was born on June 19th, 1903 in New York City, and raised by his parents Christina Fack and Heinrich Gehrig. Gehrig's mother who was a robust worker who did the cooking and cleaning for her neighbors; his dad had problems finding work and had poor health throughout Lou's life. Later he gained the nickname "The Iron horse" for appearing in 2,130 consecutive games, after signing with the New York Yankees in 1903 ("Gehrig, Lou"). Soon after his last game he was removed from the team, due to the fact that he was diagnosed with ALS which was soon named Lou Gehrig Disease. In 1939 Lou Gehrig was put into the Baseball Hall of Fame, two years later he died from ALS. A hero is someone who does something for the greater good, not to do it for the fame and the glory, but also is one man or woman who you can look up to. Lou Gehrig is a hero due to his determination to become one of the best baseball players in history, and how he displays his strength mentally and physically through the hardships in his life.

Gehrig's determination throughout his whole life demonstrates how hard working and self motivated he lived his life trying to be the best person he could be, and one of the best baseball players of all time. Gehrig displayed his determination through his earlier years of his life during his high school career when: "Lou still worked, earning money while studying and playing sports. One day he showed up to football practice, his face all covered in soot. It turns out, Lou had had to take over for his ill father who was working as a janitor" (Ronald 10). Lou Gehrig showed his dedication to his sports and to his family all at the same time. In addition, Gehrig shows the love for the people he loves in his life. Gehrig not only showed willpower in his earlier years, but as his years went on he strived to become one of the best baseball players because of: "Gehrig's consecutive game streak of 2,130 games (a record that stood until Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it in 1995) did not come easily. He played well every day despite a broken thumb, a broken toe and back spasms. Later in his career Gehrig's hands were X-rayed, and doctors were able to spot 17 different fractures that had "healed" while Gehrig continued to play," ("Honoring a Baseball Legend"). On Lou Gehrig's 2,130 consecutive game, which was a famous moment in all of baseball history, but also that he persevered through and never gave up on his team despite his injuries.. To add on to this, not only did he set the record of 2,130 games, doctors found that Gehrig's hands were fractured in 17 places, and he still pushed himself to play and brush it off. Lou Gehrig determination lead him to become one of the best baseball players and to become a strong independent man who never turned his back, even on the littlest things in life.

Lou Gehrig messing around with Babe Ruth (www.flickr.com (flickr))

Lou Gehrig was a man who was not just physically strong, but also mentally strong. He kept fighting through times of sorrow which caused him to excel during the times when he was at his greatest. Lou Gehrig demonstrates his strength through his playing of baseball and it shows through: "His achievements on the field were of the very highest caliber. Gehrig was a lifetime .340 hitter and hit 493 home runs in his career. He ranks fourth among all players, with 1,995 runs batted in" ("61,808 in Gehrig Tribute"). Lou Gehrig is powerful though his supporting his team he had and was strong enough to keep going to the fullest.. With all the legendary baseball at this time such as; Babe Ruth, Johnny Hodapp, and Lefty Grove he excelled and kept going to become the best player he possibly could. Gehrig was not only strong physically, but was also strong mentally.  "Lou Gehrig was an exceptional baseball player, one of the best of his generation. It was his approach to his disease, even as he understood that it would soon take his life, that marked Lou Gehrig as a hero." ("61,808 in Gehrig Tribute"). Lou Gehrig was marked as a hero due to the fact that he never gave up. Even with a life threatening disease he still kept doing every. Not only did everything he could, he gave his famous speech at Yankee Stadium when he had ALS and gave people courage to fight through his disease like he did. Lou Gehrig was not only a strong independent man who never gave up on his team, he was also a man who never gave up on life and looked for the light whenever he could.

Lou Gehrig hitting a homerun (www.ultimateyankees (ultimateyankees))

In the end, Lou Gehrig was a man who was determined to become the best man he could be and he never gave up and persevered through the hardest of times. Lou Gehrig was a phenomenal baseball player who never turned his back on anyone, even during the hardest of times. With this he was resilient when he found out that he had diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, because he still tried to support his team and do everything he could for the people. I believe Lou Gehrig is one of the greatest heroes of all time because he taught many people not to give up, and gave them hope when he knew that he had no hope. Who is your hero? And discover how that one person will inspire you.

Works Consulted "Gehrig, Lou." Britannica Biographies (2012): 1. History Reference Center. Web. 4 May 2015. "Lou Gehrig." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 19. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Biography in context Web. 1 May 2015. "Honoring a Baseball Legend: 75th Anniversary of Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech." The Official Website of Lou Gehrig. Rip Van Winkle Foundation, 2 July 2014. Web. 04 May 2015. Ronald, Reis A. Lou Gehrig. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. Print. "61,808 in Gehrig Tribute." American Decades Primary Sources. Ed. Cynthia Rose. Vol. 4: 1930-1939. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 683-685. Biography in Context. Web. 7 May 2015.