Gehrig delivers his famous speech at Yankee Stadium

On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig delivered his famed "Luckiest Man" speech in front of a sold out crowd in Yankee Stadium


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Join the conversation!

[lacouerfairy]

A legend. He must have been made of steel to make that speech. It takes a lot of guts to admit that you are dying.

[GambinoN]

I was named after him. I was bullied often cause my name was different.
But knowing I was named after a man like this, I have nothing to be ashamed of.

[stevejessome]

His speech and bravery is something I try to emulate daily as I battle that same disease today. 4 years into it and I'm still fighting.

[MCMLXIXwasagoodyear]

Amazingly, only four sentences of his speech were recorded (on July 4th, 1939, at Yankee Stadium's Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day). Versions of the whole speech were pieced together from newspaper stories. Here's the version Sports Illustrated compiled:

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

"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? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something. 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. 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.

"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."


He passed away less than three years later, June 2, 1941.

[inbredagogo]

Only 37 years old. He had a lot of life to live yet. Seems like all the good ones die first.

[JakePaulerlife-fdre]

Lou Gehrig has to be one of the most humble guy to walk the earth

[genericname]

Didn’t expect to get choked up watching an 80 year old newsreel, but here we are

[matt]

80 years ago today. Lou will never be forgotten!

[PalmBeachLWP]

This man was a class act and he taught us how to press on, despite obstacles and things that others see as the end. He chose to be grateful, and thanked his fellow ball players and the public. Wow, big lessons in how this man chose to live his life. He was exemplary, a real role model.

[SLAPnPOP]

They don't make athletes like Lou anymore.

[cfapps]

75  years ago this week, epic.  To bad ALS is still claiming lives.

[benriffle]

Honestly, this is one of the greatest speeches ever given considering the circumstances. I know it's just a "game", but it's so much more than that. Not many people show up every single day for 16+ years with a historic level performance. Then to stand up there, in front of thousands and thousands of people and to give this speech when you know you're dying, just amazing.

[buttersstotch]

He was dying and he still felt he was the luckiest man cause he had baseball

[AF-qvze]

"I might have been given a bad break, but ive got an awful lot to live for." Words to live by and keep you going any time life gets tough and gets you down.

[jeffwillis]

Lou Gehrig. The pride of the Yankees! A great man!!!

[lonestar]

Being English, I only vaguely watch Baseball.
But even I know that Gehrig is not only the greatest Baseball player of all time, but also an American hero.
A truly fine, and fearless man.

[smj.mp]

I'm thankful because despite the fact that I wasn't around when he was, I'm still able to see this and listen to his moving speech. I'm sorry we couldn't save him and I hope we find a cure for ALS soon.

[XGreenSquirrelX]

Good lord, 80 years later and i'm still covered in goosebumps. That man is a legend.

[michaeldeitch]

I’ve actually used that luckiest man line for a speech recently and that speech was the most thoughtful thing I’ve ever said in front of a group of people.

[christopherr]

The term legend is used all too frequently today when its seldom deserved. This man was the epitome of the word legend . A true king amongst men