No, we are not talking about a couple of games, we are talking about a double post. Michael Norris (aka/Bear) has the first half on Lou Gehrig and Mark Timmons has the second half on last night’s debacle.
June 2. Now Lou Gehrig Day–Bear
When I was a boy, back in the day, my baseball hero was not Babe Ruth or Duke Snider. It was Lou Gehrig. Why? Well, I happened to read his biography in the school library. And as I read of his youth and the discrimination he faced during WWI, I saw the inner strength of this man.
He was a standout college player at Columbia University, but when his family needed him the most, he chose baseball over an engineering degree which was his mother’s wish.
Gehrig was born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig on June 18th, 1903 in the Yorkville area of Manhattan. His parents were German immigrants. He spoke German and did not learn English until he was five years old. He weighed 14 pounds at birth. He had 2 sisters and a brother, all of whom died in childhood.
His father, Henrich, was a sheet metal worker by trade, but he was often unemployed due to alcoholism and epilepsy. His mother, Christina, was a maid and the main breadwinner and disciplinarian. In 1910 his family lived in Washington Heights. His name was often anglicized to Henry Louis Gehrig, and he was known as Lou as to not be confused with his dad. By 1920, the family had moved to Manhattan. Lou received his first national recognition for his baseball ability playing a game at Cub’s Park, which is now Wrigley, on June 26th, 1920. His high school team was playing a Chicago team in front of a crowd of more than 10,000. With his team-leading 8-6 in the top of the 9th inning, Gehrig hit a grand slam completely out of the park, which was an unheard-of feat from a 17-year-old.
Gehrig went to Columbia for 2 years. He had trouble with schoolwork. He went to Columbia on a football scholarship. Before his first semester began, John McGraw advised him to play summer pro ball under an assumed name. Although doing that would jeopardize his collegiate sports eligibility, he played a dozen games for the Hartford Senators in the Eastern League. He was discovered and banned from college sports his freshman year.
In 1922 he returned to college sports and played fullback for the Columbia football team. In 1923 he played 1st base and pitched for the baseball team. On April 18th, 1923, the same day that Babe Ruth inaugurated the opening of Yankee Stadium with a homer, Gehrig struck out 17 hitters in a loss to William Ephs, setting a team record. More significant than that was the presence of Yankee scout Paul Krichell.
Gehrig’s pitching did not particularly impress him, but his bat did. Krichell observed Gehrig hit some of the longest HR’s ever seen on various eastern campuses. Including a 450 ft. shot at South Field. Landing at 116th Street and Broadway. Gehrig signed with the Yankees on April 30th, 1923.
He played parts of 2 seasons with the Hartford Senators hitting .344 with 61 homers in 193 games. The only time Gehrig ever played any level of baseball outside of New York City.
Gehrig debuted with the Yankees on June 15th, 1923 as a pinch hitter. He was 19. He wore # 4 because he hit behind Ruth who hit 3rd. The first numbers issued to Yankee players were in the sequence of their place in the batting order. Gehrig played in 23 games and was not on the Yankees World Series roster. In 1925 he batted .295, with 20 homers and 68 RBI’s.
Gehrig was not a great fielder, so he was at first base. But he was one of the hardest working players on the team. His breakout season was 1926 when he hit .313 with 47 doubles, 20 triples, and 16 homers, he topped 100 ribbies for the first time with 112. He hit .348 in a losing effort in the series against the Cardinals. The series was most recognized for the heroics of Grover Cleveland Alexander, who famously struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded to end a Yankee threat.
1927 was a whole different animal. Gehrig hit .373, with 218 hits, 52 doubles, 18 triples, and 47 HRs. He also had 175 RBI’s setting a new record. His 117 extra-base hits were second to Ruth’s 119 in 1921. Murderers Row easily beat the Pirates 4-0 in the 27 series. They are still considered maybe baseball’s greatest team ever.
Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 games started on June 1, 1925, when he entered the game as a pinch hitter for Pee Wee Wanniger. The next day, he became the Yankee’s regular first baseman when he replaced Wally Pipp as the starter. Pipp never regained the job. One thing few know is that Gehrig kept playing even when he had injuries that probably should have benched him. He played with broken fingers many times.
During WWI, Gehrig had been on the receiving end of many taunts because of his German heritage. Kind of a dumb thing to do because Gehrig was a large man. A lot bigger than most at that time. 6 ft and 200 pounds. Most of it was muscle.
Most fans know what a great career Lou had. Ending up with 493 HRs. A career BA of .340. Almost 2000 RBI’s, 1995, career slugging .632 and an OPS of 1.080. Had he not become ill, he most likely would have topped 500 HRs easily. In 1938, at 35 years old, he still hit .295 with 29 HR’s, his lowest total since 1926. He was just starting to feel the effects of ALS.
But in 1939, at spring training, he knew something was not right. He did not hit a homer, and he even collapsed at the field one day. On April 30th Gehrig played in his 2130th straight game. The next day, he went to Joe McCarthy the Yankee manager, and benched himself. It was the last game he would ever play.
His wife contacted the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, and Charles Mayo told her to bring Lou to Minnesota. He got there on the 13th of June, 1939. After six days of extensive testing, he was confirmed to have ALS. That diagnosis came on his 36th birthday, June 19th.
It was basically then and still is a death warrant. Everything fails, but in a cruel twist, the mind remains fully aware of what is happening. In one of his letters to his wife, he laid out the bad news.
He rejoined the Yankees briefly in DC and on June 21 the Yankees announced Gehrig was retiring. The push was on to honor Gehrig immediately but Yankee president Ed Barrow shot it down. They wanted to do it at the All-Star Game, but Barrow thought Lou sharing the spotlight with other stars was a bad idea. But also believing the idea was valid, and the best thing to do, he decided to have it on the 4th of July, 1939. It would be in between games of a doubleheader with the Senators.
Lou Gehrig Appreciation day was indeed a spectacle. The 1927 team returned to honor their teammate, and Ruth even gave his old buddy a hug. We have all seen the footage of his speech, and his Luckiest Man Alive quote. It was well done in the movie Pride of the Yankees.
His number 4 was retired that day making it the first number retired in the history of MLB. The Iron Man received many gifts and awards, but immediately placed them on the ground, he no longer had the arm strength to hold them.
The trophy given to him by his teammates immediately became one of his most prized possessions and is now on display at the Hall of Fame Museum. Gehrig was elected to the Hall in December of 1939, becoming the youngest player, ( 36 ) to be elected. That was later surpassed by Koufax in 1972.
His last appearance on a major league field was at the All-Star game on July 11th. He was the American League captain and exchanged the lineup card prior to the game.
After he retired, Gehrig said he was not depressed or pessimistic about his condition. He added that he intended to hold on as long as possible and then when the inevitable comes, he would accept it philosophically and hope for the best. That is all we can do.
In October 1939 he accepted La Guardia’s appointment to a 10-year term as New York City Parole Commissioner and moved from New Rochelle to Riverdale to satisfy the residency requirement.
He quietly resigned from the position about a month before he died. On the 2nd of June, 1940, 17 days before his 38th birthday, Gehrig died at home in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx.
Thousands viewed his body, at the Church of the Divine Purity, as they would some 8 years later view Ruth’s in the Yankee Stadium Rotunda. Ruth cut in line in front of everyone and openly wept at the casket.
His remains were cremated and placed in a crypt in the stone monument marking his grave. The Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla NY, 21 miles from Yankee Stadium is right next door to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery which now holds the graves of Ruth and Billy Martin.
Gehrigs courage in the face of this disease is one of the most inspiring stories I have ever read about. He never showed any weakness, although I cannot imagine anyone being stronger or having more courage as their strength is taken from them.
What is ironic to me is how many significant life moments happened to this man in the month of June. His birth, death, debut, and beginning of his amazing streak, all coming in June. So it is fitting that Lou Gehrig, ALS day will become reality on June 2, 2021. Lou and his wife, Elenor, never had any children.
Last Night’s Debacle — Mark Timmons
I guess you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the Prince. There was a lot of “frog-kissing” last night. But, I guess you have to do a lot of that in the Spring to see the Prospects from the Suspects. The Dodgers allowed 7 runs and failed to score without even one extra-base hit. All they had were six singles.
- Jimmy Nelson led it off and wasn’t bad, which is to be expected from a guy who hasn’t pitched much in the past few years. I am ambivalent about Nelson at this point although I do love good “feelgood story.” He is going to be stretched out as a starter, but could also be a multi-inning reliever. If he doesn’t make the team, I am sure he will ask for his release.
- JoJo Gray was good until he wasn’t, giving up 2 ER in 1 IP while looking very good and very bad.
- Edwin Uceta gave up 7 hits and 4ER in 2 IP. Simply put, he was beaten like rented mule and I saw nothing of any redeemable quality about him other than he can walk upright! Not a good night! I think he’s better than that, but he sure didn’t show it.
- Blake Treinen was a breath of fresh air: 1 IP/2K’s. He is nails! Allegedly he hit 100 MPH multiple times.
- Victor Gonzalez was OUTSTANDING! He is going to pitch in a lot of high leverage situations this year.
- Ryan Pepiot was solid. He is still a factor to be considered.
- The Dodger Defense committed two errors: One each by Barnes and Noisy.
- That’s about it for that game. Good Riddance!
Here are the candidates for the last two spots (I am putting them in order of what I think is their probability of making the team) :
- Edwin Rios – In
- DJ Peters – In
- Sheldon Neuse – In
- Matt Davidson – AAA
- Matt Beaty – AAA
- Luke Raley – AAA
- Zach Reks – AAA
Still there is a lot of time. Clayton goes today against KC at 12:05 PST.
I don’t understand. How are Peters and Neuse both in? Bench is Barnes, Taylor, Rios, McKinstry plus one guy tops.
Mark puts Rios in the category of Question Mark for the final two spots. I think most people assume he’s a lock, so that would leave one spot. You’re right that Mark has all three of those guys as IN. Should be 2 of 3.
Hard to say who the final spot will go to. I was leaning towards Beaty simply b/c the Dodgers know him, but they could use a right handed bat. Noisy is good b/c you can plug him multiple positions in the infield. You could potentially platoon with Muncy at 1rst, though Muncy has always had good splits against L handed pitching. You could put him at second if Lux struggles or when Lux needs to slide over to SS to spot Seager, and he can play 3rd when JT gets his usual hammy injury.
Peters can play CF or RF, which is where the Dodgers are somewhat thin, is a right handed bat with obvious power, I’m not sure that his bat is ready for MLB caliber pitching.
Thanks. I’ll guess we’ll find out!
Dodgers are going to do right bysome guys and trade them if they don’t make the team.
It’s a way to encourage other players to sign with us.
Thinking Nelson, Uceta, Reks/Raley/Beaty, etc.
Davidson is a real sleeper this spring. His MLB experience has to count for something.
I think Neuse needs an entire year in our system to unlearn bad habits, just like Muncy.
And I do like Peters and am rooting for him hard.
I too am pulling for Peters. Think he may be the 26th man. Bellinger coming back from surgery may give him the edge. Yes, I know they say Bellinger will be ready by opening day but Peters is a CF insurance policy.
I have McKinstry and Rios along with Taylor and Barnes as bench locks with Lux as 2B.
Loved the commercials on last blog. Wow, I had forgotten that they used to make commercials that were funny and entertaining, commercials nowadays just suck and usually focus on some political cause or thought, YUCK! Can we be allowed to just have fun again?
I have to admit, I haven’t been following the Dodgers at all, just too early to make any assessments as far as fandom goes, for me at least. I start looking in after 3+ weeks, once guys have started to get honed in a bit, this applies especially to pitchers. Early results on pitchers is really meaningless, so many things are going on with them, working on new pitches, being ordered to only throw curveballs or fastballs, learning new grip on the ball, etc.
Enjoy the speculation, guys, but don’t put too much stock in what you are seeing currently, it will get real in another 2 or 3 weeks.
But Truth, it’s fun to see the young guys get some time early in camp. Put a face to a name and get a feel for their game. I speed watch the games and mostly watch the young guys I’ve never seen before. So far from what I’ve seen we have a lot of good young pitching depth. And Bear great write up on Gehrig. Always fun to get all the backstory on the players. Love the history lessons you provide us. Thx
Whatever floats your boat, Cassidy. I was only speaking for myself, obviously consumers are free to consume what they please. If you like to see guys working on their games, by all means you should do it. For me, I don’t really have an interest until it gets down to the working end of the funnel.
Peace, Love and Triple Masking (okay you caught me, I don’t wear masks)
Thanks Cassidy. I thought it appropriate after I read about MLB making June 2 Lou Gehrig day and also a day to raise awareness and battle ALS. A disease that there is still no cure for. Some of the committee that pushed to get the day added by MLB passed away from ALS before they saw their dream become a reality.
Thank you Bear. I never knew that my birthday and Lou Gehrig’s were on the same day. This means that I’ve read next to nothing on Gehrig. Shame on me! I’ve learned a lot about Lou’s life and career from your article.
Hi Mark. I’ve been hoping that DJ Peters would make the team. I know that main problem in the past has been too many K’s. I know it’s early yet but so far no K’s in his limited AB’s. It sure would be nice to have a RH long ball hitter on the bench. Time will tell, but I hope he makes the team.
Thanks Hodges. Since I read about MLB having the initial Lou Gehrig day, I thought it would be an interesting subject. I always thought his story is both inspiring and tragic at the same time. He was still a young man when he died. You also share your birthday with my late cousin Tommy. He was born the 19th. I was born on the 14th, two years before him, and my cousin David was born 3 days before Tommy on the 16th. 3 sisters, all the boys in June! What are the odds. My daughter Carrie was born on the 26th of May and shares her birthday with John Wayne. Mine of course is Flag day, and also the birthday of Donald Trump.
One other thing Hodges, most movies about players have a lot of Hollywood touches to them, so the entire movie might be a little short on truth. Most of the Pride of the Yankees is Hollywood fluff, but parts of it are real. There are many books about him and you can find them on Amazon.
Last night was bad enough so I shut it off after Uceta’s gasoline act. Way to early to predict the roster. But some are making strides. Peters has 3 hits, 3 walks and only 1 strikeout. From what I have seen he is not swinging at pitches he flailed at last year. That does not mean he has totally licked his K bugaboo, but he has made strides in that direction. Neuse has not impressed me at all. Outman has been very good, but he is ticketed for AA I think. McKinstry has shown a lot of versatility and a solid bat. None of the regulars except Seager seem to be making solid contact right now. Rios has hit a couple of screamers. But at this point of spring, the pitchers are usually ahead of the hitters. Kershaw is starting today, and Bauer tomorrow. Roberts said Price’s first start will come next week. Bellinger is almost ready for game action.
Oops! I thought Peters had not struck out yet in ST. My bad.
He struck out last night, but also had a hit.
Today’s game is scheduled for 9 innings.
First seven hitters in today’s game with the Royals are regulars. Betts, Seager, Turner, Muncy, Smith, Taylor, and Lux. Then Beaty and Raley with Kersh on the hill.
ALS is a big deal to me. My Dad died of ALS 4 years ago – he started revealing symptoms late in life (late 60s) but had it for 15+ years. It’s an awful way to die – you gradually lose all of your ability to move and eventually lose the ability to breathe. At the end Dad couldn’t eat, talk, walk, use his hands, nod his head, and stopped digesting his food and breathing well.
For most, there is no known cause and of course there is no cure. (In about 15% of cases, there is an hereditary link.) Most die in 2 – 5 years. I am not big on “days” for diseases and causes and have no idea whether Lou Gehrig day is just another empty gesture, but ALS is truly horrible.
I agree about that. I have a couple of friends who had parents die of it. One went quickly and the other one went on-an-one. I would not wish that on my worst enemy.
I like Lou Gehrig’s other nickname: “Biscuit pants”.
Yeah, that is classic. He had a couple, Sweet Lou was one as was The Iron Horse. Babe had more than a few too,
For those that don’t have access to Spectrum LA or the MLB package, today’s game is on ESPN at noon as well.
Fortunately, I missed the game against the Cubs! Enjoyed your double-post, though! Certainly much better than the game. Like Cassidy, I enjoy watching the young guys during spring training. We will see more of some of them during the season, for sure.
If the Dodgers dont give Borras clients Belly and Seager 300 mil contracts then can our 2023 lineup look like this?
1B Rios
2B Bush
SS Lux
3B Hoese
LF Pages and other lefties
CF Peters
RF Mookie
C Smith and Ruiz
SP Kersh ( yes he will retire a Dodger), Buehler, Urias, May, Gonsolin and Gray as depth piece
RP Grateral, Ferguson, Gonzalez, Miller, Pepiot, Knack, Beeter, and Grove as long man
With lots of room in the budget for a star or two to supplement this roster. What do you think?
Sam Dyson suspended for the entire 2021 season per MLB’s Domestic abuse policy. Being reported by MLB news network and Ken Rosenthal.
Turner looks in mid season form over there at 3rd today. Lux with another knock.
I’m watching the game on ESPN but half the game is about interviews and he game on he field is a split screen………BORING BORING.
I have MLB.TV. Monday and Neverette calling the game. Taylor with a go ahead grand slam. Pretty cool.
Very cool. I saw Taylor’s grand slam. ESPN just broke away from their regular programming of interviews to show the game at the time he hit the grand slam.
Won’t happen but I’d love a midseason contract extension for Taylor. I won’t be greedy–just two more years.
I would agree with extending Taylor. He is a valuable piece.
Is Andre Jackson or Andre Jansen? Looks like a Kenley Jr.
The first time I saw DJ Peters, he reminded me of Ricky Ledee,
I hope he’s a much better player.
I got a 1960 Roberto Clemente card I ordered today. The 1960 version of Topps was not my favorite. Too many cards of players without their caps on. But some were pretty nice including the Clemente. I know it is early, but, I am not even close to being sold on Neuse. As a matter of fact, I think he starts the season at AAA. Rios is a roster lock. And Lux is starting to look like one as is McKinstry.