Lou Gehrig

            Lou Gehrig was known as one of baseballs finest player.
             why Gehrig's fame came from his career baseball stats, but more important, .
             his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played. This streak was ended due to .
             an ilness Gehrig acquired during his career in baseball. A seriouse illness .
             that not only ended Gehrig's streak but also his career in baseball.
             Gehrig's streak had begun June 1, 1925, when he pinch hit for .
             shortstop Pee Wee Wanniger. Then , Gehrig started the next game and from .
             there on, his streak had begun and increased during his career in baseball. .
             Lou Gehrig went on to hold many baseball records such as, career average .
             of .340, 493 homers and 1,976 RBIs. He still holds major league records for .
             consecutive seasons playing all of his team's games (13), career grand .
             slams (23), seasons with 400 total bases (5), and American League records .
             for RBIs in a season (184) and seasons scoring 100 or more runs (13). What .
             ended all of these great accomplishments was an illness called amytrophic .
             lateral sclerosis, which is an incurable fatal neuromuscular disease .
             characterized by progressive muscle weakness, resulting in paralysis. .
             When Gehrig recieved the news from the doctors that he would never play .
             again, he decided on the next day in Yankee Stadium to stand upon 601,484 .
             fans and deliver his "Farewell" speech, tears in his eyes as he concluded a .
             farewell to all of his great fans that respected and adored him so much. .
             It was really devastating to Gehrig when he had to cut his baseball .
             career short because of this unfortunate illness he had. Lou Gehrig had .
             tears in his eyes the last time when he was in uniform and saw someone .
             elses name at his position. He knew then and there that this illness he .
             acquired, will not allow him to the game which had so much love and .
             respect for. Joe McCarthy, the manager of the Yankees said that " it was the .
             hardest thing he had ever did as a coach, not starting Lou Gehrig because .