Lou Gehrig: The Iron Horse Michael Brown Senior Division Historical Paper 1815 Words In the economically depressed times of the1930s, it was clear that the people of America were looking for a hero to look towards. With the legend Babe Ruth fading from baseball, it was time for Lou Gehrig to step up to the plate. Now the leader of the New York Yankees, Gehrig broke many records with his bat, and kept his ever-lasting consecutive game streak with his moral fiber. Even when Gehrig was diagnosed with a career ending disease, ALS, his character of strength and determination shined. Lou Gehrig is the most significant and influential baseball player of the twentieth-century because of his impact on ALS, his performance in Major League Baseball, and his strong character. …show more content…
In June of 1903, Gehrig was born in New York City. He was the son of two German immigrants (“Lou Gehrig” St. James). Gehrig’s full name, Henry Louis Gehrig, was derived from his original, which was Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig. Gehrig grew up in a life surrounded with poverty, so he felt like it was his obligation to help his parents (“Lou Gehrig” World Biography). In appreciation, Gehrig’s parents returned the favor. Gehrig said, “When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing” (“Gehrig’s Farewell”). Gehrig was a truly remarkable young athlete, as his father took him to gymnasiums to keep him in shape (“Lou Gehrig” World Biography). When Gehrig was only eleven years old, he swam across the Hudson River (“Lou Gehrig” World Biography). Gehrig’s strength was not overshadowed often. A Yankee scout, Paul Krichell, said, “I sat up and took notice. I saw a tremendous youth, with powerful arms and terrific legs” (“Gehrig Quotes”). Gehrig’s early childhood was the beginning of the construction of an indestructible character that baseball has never seen