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Today in History: Lou Gehrig, afflicted w/ ALS, bids farewell to fans at Yankee Stdm (July 04, 1939)
Answers.com ^

Posted on 07/04/2008 12:53:02 PM PDT by yankeedame

Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."


TOPICS: History; Miscellaneous; Sports
KEYWORDS: 1930baseball; als; lougehrig; nyyankee

1 posted on 07/04/2008 12:53:04 PM PDT by yankeedame
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To: yankeedame

That kind don’t grow on trees. Thanks for posting it.

God bless America.


2 posted on 07/04/2008 1:11:35 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Don't cheer for Obama too hard - the krinton syndicate is moving back into the WH.)
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To: WorkingClassFilth

Amen!


3 posted on 07/04/2008 1:27:14 PM PDT by ContraryMary (New Jersey -- Superfund cleanup capital of the U.S.A.)
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To: yankeedame
Lou Gehrig - As a Sox fan, you are still in my heart. I never saw you play, but you are one of the GREATS.

Now, GO RED SOX!! Sorry Yankees, I'd want to see a different team as a wild Card - the Tampa Bay Rays.

4 posted on 07/04/2008 2:35:43 PM PDT by MaineConservative (Charlie Summers -- an Iraqi Vet and businessman for Maine's CD-1)
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To: WorkingClassFilth
That kind don’t grow on trees. Thanks for posting it.

My last baseball hero was Al Kaline. When he retired it seems as if baseball headed off in another direction of "me and my salaryism".........

I never viewed baseball the same after he left.

5 posted on 07/04/2008 2:41:02 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Hot Tabasco

Currently, the only real baseball hero I have is one from my teen years: Ken Griffey, Jr., who recently got #600. Even through all the injuries, he’s still a stand-up athlete.


6 posted on 07/04/2008 2:58:35 PM PDT by arderkrag (Libertarian Nutcase (Political Compass Coordinates: 9.00, -2.62 - www.politicalcompass.org))
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To: yankeedame

I am a Dodger fan who is filled with respect at the Bravest Yankee of them all.

John Kerry committed the closest thing to baseball sacrilege possible when he compared himself to the great Lou Gehrig, the Pride of the Yankees.


7 posted on 07/04/2008 3:12:04 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: arderkrag
My personal hero is Rick Monday, who as a Cub, saved the American flag from being torched by some wackos at Dodger Stadium. Later, the Dodgers traded for him and despite serious injuries (one coming from running into a brick wall at full speed)made important contributions for many more years.


8 posted on 07/04/2008 3:15:52 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: yankeedame

An excellent book on Lou Gehrig is Jonathan Eig’s Luckiest Man.


9 posted on 07/04/2008 5:00:19 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule
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To: al baby; Auntbee; BJClinton; Dashing Dasher; dfwddr; exile; Feiny; Finger Monkey; Fintan; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket TaЯd ping!

"Tard" refers to the ping list members and not to the subject of the thread!

List of Ping Lists

10 posted on 07/04/2008 10:00:45 PM PDT by dhot (Always do whatever's next. - George Carlin - RIP)
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To: dhot
Today
Today
Today
I consider myself
myself
myself
the luckiest man on earth
on earth
on earth

11 posted on 07/04/2008 10:08:47 PM PDT by envisio (If you ain't laughin yet... you ain't seen me naked. 8^O)
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To: yankeedame; dhot

Lou Gehrig...a Yankee so awesome that even a Red Sox guy like me can love him.

I hope you’ve been enjoying Heaven so far, Lou.


12 posted on 07/04/2008 10:18:02 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (*******It's not conservative to accept an inept Commander-in-Chief in a time of war. Back Mac.******)
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To: dhot

Why did this get a tard ping?


13 posted on 07/07/2008 12:16:37 PM PDT by murdoog (http://babydoc3.livejournal.com)
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To: murdoog

Because we are big Lou Gehrig fans.


14 posted on 07/07/2008 3:08:01 PM PDT by dhot (Always do whatever's next. - George Carlin - RIP)
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To: yankeedame

“Lou Gehrig died of Lou Gehrig’s disease. How the hell did he not see that coming?” -— Denis Leary


15 posted on 07/07/2008 3:12:13 PM PDT by Clemenza (You Shoot Me in a Dream, You Better Wake Up and Apologize)
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