On June 19, 1903 on 309 East 94th Street in Yorkville, a baby boy weighing nearly 14 pounds is born to German immigrants Heinrich and Christina Gehrig. He is the only surviving child for the couple and they will name him Lou. He will come to be known as the Iron Horse, a future Hall of Fame first baseman who played in 2,130 consecutive baseball games.
Gehrig had two sisters who died from whooping cough and measles at an early age, and a brother who also died in infancy. He helped his mother around the house during his childhood, folding laundry and running errands.
The Iron Horse first gained national attention while playing in a game at Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) on June 26, 1920 at the age of 17. Gehrig’s New York School of Commerce were playing Chicago’s Lane Tech High School. In the top of the ninth inning, he hit a grand slam that completely left the Major League park.
Gehrig signed a contract with the Yankees on April 30, 1923 and the rest is history. 112 years after he was born he still holds the records for:
Most consecutive seasons with 120+ RBIs
Most RBIs by a first baseman
Most runs scored by a first baseman
Highest on-base percentage by a first baseman
Most walks by a first baseman
Highest slugging percentage by a first baseman
Most extra base hits by a first baseman
He was a six time World Series champ, seven time All Star, two time AL MVP and a Triple Crown winner. The Bronx Faithful say happy birthday to the greatest first baseman to ever play the game.
G is for Gehrig,
The Pride of the Stadium;
His record pure gold,
His courage, pure radium.-Ogden Nash, Line-up for Yesterday
