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Why is Lou Gehrig famous?

Updated: 8/22/2023
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7y ago

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Lou Gehrig is famous because he was, first of all, a Hall of Fame 1st baseman with the New York Yankees and part of "Murderer's Row" he hit 475 career home runs and held the streak for consecutive games played until Cal Ripken broke it. He is also famous for the disease that would ultimately kill him, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, its effects caused him to cut his Baseball career short and it would eventually kill him. It was when he stepped away from baseball because of this that he gave the "luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech at Yankee Stadium.

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7y ago
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14y ago

493 home runs, 1995 RBI, .340 lifetime batting average, 1,888 runs, 2,721 lifetime hits, lifetime .92 RBI per game ratio, .447 on-base percentage, .632 slugging percentage, 5,060 total bases, a career .87 runs per game ratio, Triple Crown in 1934 at .363, 49 homers and 165 RBI, 7 seasons of over 150 RBI, 13 straight years of over 100 RBI and runs and 2,130 straight games. That helped his New York Yankees team (from 1923 to 1939) win 8 World Series titles and 9 American League pennants with him at the plate, including 4 in a row (1936-1939). He may have earned more, but had his career cut short by a rare and incurable disease. That disease, his long consecutive games streak (2,130) and having teammate Babe Ruth for much of Gehrig's career overshadowed his monstrous and clutch-performing offensive totals.

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10y ago

They named it The Lou Gehrig Disease cause he was the first one to get it.

That isn't true. Lou Gehrig wasn't the first one to get this disease. The disease real name is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. And it was first written about in the mid-1800s. Its a rare disorder and because Lou Gehrig was the first well known person to contract it. Lou Gherig's disease is used synonymously with ALS.But that isn't the case around the world or in scientific/medical settings. Its called its proper name or in French its called maladie de Charcot. After the French doctor that wrote about the disease.

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7y ago

He was one of the all-time great baseball players.

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Related questions

Famous people with Lou Gehrig's disease?

Lou Gehrig and Stephen Hawkings.


Why is Lou Gehrig's speech so famous?

He was retiring and he had Lou Gehrig's disease. Basically people wanted to here Lou Gehrig's last words in person.


What famous baseball player wore number 4?

Lou Gehrig with the New York Yankees


What were two of Gehrig's famous nicknames?

Larrupin' Lou and Iron Horse.


How long did Lou Gehrig live after his famous speech?

two years


What did Lou Gehrig stand for?

Lou Gehrig was the model of consistency.


Was Lou Gehrig hispanic?

No. Lou Gehrig was of German descent.


Was Lou Gehrig a black man?

No. Lou Gehrig was white.


Who is the most famous baseball player to wear the number 4?

Lou Gehrig


Does the Lou Gehrig fund raise for ALS?

Yes! Lou Gehrig died of ALS. After his death they named the disease after him. Well sort of. Its a famous nick name for it you could say.


Who is better cal ripken jr or Lou gehrig?

lou gehrig


Where can I find more information about Lou Gehrig disease?

Lou Gehrig's disease is the more common name for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neuromuscular disease which took the life of famous American Baseball player Lou Gehrig. Lou was famous in the 1920's and 30's and had a long and unbeatable record in the game. There is an ALS Association which can provide detailed information on the condition.