07/04/2019
It was a very dramatic moment. The middle of a doubleheader July 4, 1939 in New York's Yankees Stadium. It was 'Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day, and 60,000 dignitaries, newspaper men, starlets, politicians and fans came to see more than just the Senators vs. the Yanks. They were sadly expecting confirmation of what no one wanted to hear.... that The Iron Horse was leaving the game of baseball forever.... because he had ALS.
How could it be that the man with muscles of steel and a such a mighty bat would be taken out because of a disease that takes your muscles? With a remarkable 23 grand slams, 1,990 RBIs and 2,130 consecutive games played (never called out sick never needed a day off never benched for behavior.... and as a member of Murderer's Row this actually might have happened), how could we look upon first base after all this time and NOT see him there? How could this gentleman of the game, humble hero and mama's boy be stricken by such a terrible fate? How could those incredible arms that guarded first base for 16 years not hold the heavy trophies and mementos handed to him - rather he quickly sat them on the ground as he prepared to speak?
And what would he say?
He said he was lucky.
"... the luckiest man on the face of the earth..." actually.
It was a short speech - but the first of its kind and one of the most memorable in American sports history. Filled with gratitude for the people in his life. Determination to move forward with courage. Hope for the future.
In that moment The Iron Horse became The Luckiest Man. And an enduring role model for everyone who has ever gone through a terrible thing... like ALS for example.
Today is the 80th Anniversary of the Luckiest Man Speech.... and we still don't have a treatment or a cure for the disease which has taken so many of our heroes.
But we aren't going to quit either.
Thank you, Lou.
ONWARD.
