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GEHRIG IS FORCED TO QUIT BASEBALL (6/22/39)
Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 6/22/39 | Arthur J. Daley, John Kieran

Posted on 06/22/2009 4:53:38 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

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EDITORIAL

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TOPICS: History; Sports
KEYWORDS: baseball; realtime
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.
1 posted on 06/22/2009 4:53:39 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
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To: fredhead; r9etb; PzLdr; dfwgator; Paisan; From many - one.; rockinqsranch; GRRRRR; 2banana; ...

Ping.


2 posted on 06/22/2009 4:55:10 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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.


3 posted on 06/22/2009 5:14:15 AM PDT by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Nice story about Gehrig. Though I wasn’t old enough to see him play I was an an avid baseball fan as a young man and read about him and the other great players throughout the years. His attitude and character are sorely missed today.


4 posted on 06/22/2009 5:17:51 AM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

A mild case of Polio? Then, it was probably a mis-diagnosis. Now, everyone would assume that it was just spin.


5 posted on 06/22/2009 6:18:11 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: PAR35
In the story they quote his doctor giving the proper name for his ailment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but the doctor said in layman's terms it's called a form of chronic poliomyelitis. "Polio" was understood--and FDR was then the President of the United States.

The New York Times, with its customary accuracy, has some of his stats wrong--his lifetime total of home runs (not counting World Series games) was 493 (they have 494).

The original Pride of the Yankees movie about Lou Gehrig is worth seeing--no doubt it takes a few liberties with details but it does give you an idea of why he was loved so much by fans.

6 posted on 06/22/2009 6:46:16 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
One of the many nice things about the movie, "Pride of the Yankees" is that Gary Cooper bore somewhat more than a passing resemblance to Mr. Gehrig.

Leni

7 posted on 06/22/2009 6:50:41 AM PDT by MinuteGal (Please Don't Tell Obama What Comes After a Trillion!)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

He is my favorite, I have much memorabilia of Lou. My brother says the new stadium is beautiful. thanks for the article.


8 posted on 06/22/2009 6:52:02 AM PDT by longfellow (Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
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To: MinuteGal

You look at Lou’s stats for 1938, and while the numbers were a little bit off of his best years, they were still very good numbers and comparable to a lot of previous seasons. But for this tragic illness that took his life, Gehrig probably had another three productive seasons left in him. 3,000 hits and 500 home runs were not unrealistic milestones upon his retirement.

I’m not a Yankees fan. In fact, they are in my “bottom 5” of baseball teams (joining both Sox, Dodgers and Mets). But seeing the statue and plaque of Gehrig at Cooperstown did bring tears to my eyes. Gehrig and the great Roberto Clemente were both inducted to the HOF posthumously, and with a waiver of the five year retirement rule.


9 posted on 06/22/2009 8:40:55 AM PDT by henkster (Bumper Sticker: Please don't tell 0bama what comes after a Trillion!)
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To: nathanbedford
Sheesh, Lou. Rub some dirt on it and play ball. Wuss.

Best of luck with the knee, NB. Oh, man. Watched one of my favorite left fielders lose an ACL in a collision over the weekend - full flip with a twist that would have scored high in a gymnastics competition. Hurt just watching it.

ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease - we might possibly be seeing a serious breakthrough on it - News Here - haven't followed the story since last autumn but it sounds promising.

10 posted on 06/22/2009 10:55:20 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Verginius Rufus

It is clear from the story that they either did not know or were not telling the terrible nature and prognosis of this illness. There is a comment that he might regain his health after a couple of years!


11 posted on 06/22/2009 3:48:22 PM PDT by Lucius Cornelius Sulla ("men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters." -- Edmund Burke)
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To: Verginius Rufus

Thanks. I have seen the movie.


12 posted on 06/23/2009 7:38:41 AM PDT by PAR35
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