[PAR35]

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

[Verginius Rufus]

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.