61,808 FANS ROAR TRIBUTE TO GEHRIG (7/5/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 7/5/39 | John Drebinger

[Homer_J_Simpson]

If you would like to be added to or deleted from the Real Time +/- 70 Years ping list, send me a freepmail. You can also search for these articles by the keyword realtime, going back to the first one on January 27, 2008. These articles are posted on the 70th anniversary of their original publication date. See my profile for additional information.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

”What young man wouldn’t give anything to mingle with such men for a single day as I have for all these years?” he asked.

”You’ve been reading about my bad break for weeks now,” he said. “But today I think I’m the luckiest man alive. I now feel more than ever that I have much to live for.”

[nathanbedford]

I have been undergoing a rehabilitation therapy at a local center after an operation for a new knee. In the area where we were being taught on our crutches how properly to walk on our new knees, I observed several photographs hung on the wall. The first was in color and was a picture of a Michael Jordan, bare chested, with his arms fully extended to either side forming a truly impressive wingspan with a basketball held in one hand looking as tiny as though it were a ping-pong ball.

The second was in black and white. It was a baseball scene in which the batter had completed his swing and was following the ball into the bleachers for a home run. I thought it incongruous that such a photograph would be displayed in Germany where no one has the slightest acquaintance with baseball. I asked the therapist there if she knew who was in the photograph. She did not. I told her it was Lou Gehrig and that it was ironic that his photograph should be displayed in a rehabilitation clinic dedicated to the restoration of joints and muscles. I explained "Lou Gehrig's disease" to her and the iconic status and near reverence in which Lou Gehrig even to this day is held.

I asked several people at the clinic over time if they had any idea about the photograph and if they knew who Lou Gehrig was. None did.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I asked several people at the clinic over time if they had any idea about the photograph and if they knew who Lou Gehrig was. None did.

That is not surprising if, as your profile suggests, you are freeping from Germany. I am afraid the name recogition would not be much better among the under-forty population in this country.

[wagglebee]

That is not surprising if, as your profile suggests, you are freeping from Germany. I am afraid the name recogition would not be much better among the under-forty population in this country.

I think there are several factors. First of all, baseball has never caught on in Europe and even in the US baseball is nowhere near as popular as it was in the past (and steroids hasn't helped).

The sad thing is that of all the athletes who have been personal heroes, I can think of none who fit the hero mold better than Lou Gehrig. And as far as tremendous athletes, I would think that Gehrig would be on any all time top ten list and among baseball players I would have to put him in the top five of all time.

[nathanbedford]

But they all know who Michael Jackson was.

[Peter W. Kessler]

“Pride of the Yankees”

Is there any wonder why I’m no longer a baseball fan?

[OrangeHoof]

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed this.

[dancusa]

This is a video of the tribute at Yankee Stadium.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4msaZTJrTA

[Homer_J_Simpson]

That is great. Thank you for posting it. Is that from the Ken Burns baseball documentary? The style reminds me of the civil war series, which is the only one of his I have seen.

[dancusa]

It is from the Burns baseball documentary. John Chancellor narrated.