Gaff’s short biographical essay on Gehrig, which makes up the second half of Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir, is also excellent. There are, of course, countless sources for facts on. The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig-a major historical discovery, published for the first time as a book, with 'color commentary' from historian Alan Gaff. In 1927, the legendary Lou Gehrig sat down to write the remarkable story of his life and career. He was at his peak, fresh off a record-breaking season with the fabled '27 World.
“A compelling rumination by a baseball icon and a tragic hero.” —Sports Illustrated The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig—a sensational discovery, published for the first time as a book.At the tender age of twenty-four, Lou Gehrig decided to tell the remarkable story of his life and career. He was one of the most famous athletes in the country, in the midst of a record-breaking. The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig—a sensational discovery, published for the first time as a book. At the tender age of twenty-four, Lou Gehrig decided to tell.
“I don’t believe I would have met a finer group of men anywhere than I have met in baseball. Nor a squarer, fairer lot of men, either.
Of course, I am just a kid at the game and I realize it. I still have much to learn, and I hope I still have many years in which to learn it. But this I do know, that baseball is today and will be the greatest game in the world. And if I ever get married and have any sons who show promise of real baseball ability, I can only hope that professional baseball will offer them as much as it has offered me, and treat them as kindly.
As for the years that lie ahead, I can only hope for the best. If I succeed or if I fall, if I’m a star or a flop, there can at least be this said, I’ll give the best I have, play the best I can, do the best I can. And that, I think, is the spirit of every man in professional baseball today.”
From Alan D. Gaff’s Biographical Essay:
Lou Gehrig died peacefully at 10:10 p.m. on June 2, 1941, in his home at 5204 Delafield Avenue in the Bronx. The next day, as accolades poured in from celebrities and former teammates, fans began to queue up for the official two-hour viewing at Christ Episcopal Church, just around the corner from Lou’s home.
Jeff Rowe Associated Press
Five thousand fans stood in line to walk past Lou’s open casket. There were taxi drivers, professional men, laborers with greasy hands, young boys, artists, reporters—every sort of person who had gone through the turnstiles at Yankee Stadium to watch Lou Gehrig play or had listened as radio broadcasters chronicled his latest home run.
A funeral service took place on June 4 for one hundred invited guests. One man who stood in this stream of humanity described his experience: “You moved along a flagstone walk between lines of policemen to the steps of the church. A red-haired boy in a dirty sweatshirt, a baseball cap in his hands, was just ahead of you. Behind you there was a blind man, touching the arm of a younger man for guidance. The sun was reflected by his white cane.” A policeman made sure everyone entered in a single file.
The mourner picked up his narrative: “Soon you were looking down at the calm face of one of baseball’s immortals. He lay in a plain, dark casket, a blanket of roses covering his lower half. In a moment, you were past, moving on to the side door of the church.
Lou Gehrig The Lost Memoir
Behind you, you could hear the blind man whisper: ‘Good-bye, Lou.’”
Overview
New York Yankees Lou Gehrig
The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig—a sensational discovery, published for the first time as a book.
At the tender age of twenty-four, Lou Gehrig decided to tell the remarkable story of his life and career. He was one of the most famous athletes in the country, in the midst of a record-breaking season with the legendary 1927 World Series-winning Yankees. In an effort to grow Lou’s star, pioneering sports agent Christy Walsh arranged for Lou’s tale of baseball greatness to syndicate in newspapers across the country. Until now, those columns were largely forgotten and lost to history.
Lou comes alive in this inspiring memoir. It is a heartfelt rags-to-riches tale about a dirt poor kid from New York who became one of the most revered baseball players of all time.
Fourteen years after his account, Lou would tragically die from ALS, a neuromuscular disorder now known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His poignant autobiography is followed by an insightful biographical essay by historian Alan D. Gaff. Here is Lou—Hall of Famer, All Star, and MVP—back at bat.