When Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with his disease, the world of baseball took a devastating blow. Lou Gehrig had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, which forced him to retire from baseball. Gehrig addressed his fans on July 4, 1939 to inform them of his situation. Although Gehrig knew that he would eventually face death, he did not convey any fear. Lou Gehrig elaborately appealed to his audience by showing his gratitude for them; meanwhile, expressing the gravity of his disease, however also illuminating the situation by reflecting on the positives, rather than dwelling on the negatives. Lou Gehrig captures the audience’s emotions, as well as their attention, …show more content…
He can be taken sincerely because he utilizes names, which makes everything more realistic, in a way, considering the fact that he was just as good, if not better than the men he admirably mentioned. Honored, he proceeded with “Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day.” At the time, Gehrig might not have realized it, but he was just as great as “Jacob Rupert,” “Ed Barrow,” “Miller Huggins,” and “Joe McCarthy.” He truly depicted how much baseball meant to him and how much of an honor it was to be associated with those amazing people. Along with the great people in baseball, he also discussed the importance of his family, “When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that’s the finest I know.” His disease took away his strength and affected his ability to move, but his family gave it to him in a new way, they were his backbone.
Two years before the death of the “Pride of the Yankees,” 60,000 fans gathered to listen to the man himself, Lou Gehrig, confirm his diagnosis. Gehrig delivered his heartwarming speech and touched the lives of people by authenticating his appreciation for his fans, his opportunities, and his family. Although the disease took Gehrig’s life, his legacy and compassion lives on in the hearts of so many, because of his will to make it his mission to let everyone know that a short life can be a full