Lou Gehrig's accomplishments on the field made him an American hero, but his career was in majority overshadowed by Ruth and DiMaggio. Lou's is most remembered by having a record 2,130 consecutive games played, all 13 years worth. His record stood for 62 years until Cal "Iron Man" Ripken broke it in 1998. Lou spent his whole career with the New York Yankees. .
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Lou was the son of German immigrants. Lou's parents wanted Lou to become an engineer. Lou had different ideas and became one of the best Yankee baseball players ever. .
In 1921 Lou attended Columbia University to study engineering, and to play baseball and football. While in college, the New York Giants manager John McGraw had talked Lou to play summer pro-ball under a different name "Henry Lewis". McGraw wanted Lou to get professional experience although it was illegal for a college athlete to play a professional sport. After playing 12 games Gehrig found out playing pro ball while still in college is illegal. After college coaches saw his name on the pro-teams roster he was ineligible from playing at Columbia again. After college in 1923 Lou signed with the New York Yankees, batting well and showing promise. As a Yankee, in 1925, he had an average of (.423) in 26 times at bats. Gehrig's manager, Miller Huggins, wanted Lou to play in the World Series however, at this time the Yankees were sharing the Giant's field and while the Yankees were doing this the Giants manager had the right to say Gehrig couldn't play. Lou ended up not playing bu!.
t the Yankees won anyway. .
But fielding wasn't Lou's greatest of talents. Lou was called "tangle foot" because he wasn't very good at first base. But he wouldn't give up, he worked with coaches and teammates until he became the best fielder and first baseman he could be. Wally Pipp was soon to be a star bench player after Gehrig's defence did improve. Pipp was a star first baseman for the Yankees, leading the league in home runs twice.
