Parts of it may have been salvaged from a speech he wrote the night before and then threw away because he thought it stunk (read Jonathan Eig's great bio of Lou, "Luckiest Man"), but yeah, an amazing speech.
Keith it IS one of the greatest and most inspirational speeches ever given. I'm so glad you had the chance to memorialize "The Iron Horse." Yours was one of the finest tributes to any athlete I have ever heard. Thank you.
This is the first time I've heard the late Lou Gehrig's famous speech. It brought me to tears when he said, "I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for." Despite the death sentence he'd been given, Lou articulated his gratitude for life using simple yet heartfelt words. Listening to his speech reminded me to be grateful for life because life is short, fragile and one never knows what can happen. Rest in peace, Lou...you're fondly remembered.
I use Lou Gherig's speech in my speech writing class as an example of just how powerful simple words can be. Of course, it helps that the words came from a truly decent man.
How sad that we don't have footage of Lou presenting his entire, powerful speech. Lou, you weren't just a great player, but a great human being. My mom was given a terminal diagnosis. She expressed gratitude, much like Lou did, to the point where the doctor asked if she had understood the gravity of her diagnosis. She said she understood, but she was grateful for all the blessings in her life. Rest in peace 🙏
HBO’s “when it was a game” has color footage of Lou Gehrig in the World Series taking batting practice and sitting in the dugout. It’s pretty powerful to watch, especially knowing what would come. It’s pretty powerful to watch. There are probably clips on RU-vid of it
I remember when Mr Obermann suggested that Cal Ripken sit out game 2131 thus being tied with Lou Gehrig. At the time I thought this was a crazy idea. But looking back I kind of wished he did that. I like Cal Ripken Jr, I'm an O's fan, but Lou's story is timeless and thats one record that should have remained forever. The games played will never change and life goes on, but his youth and early passing. The man he was is timeless.
Today when I post this it in May 2 2024 I think this was on this date in 1939 that Gehrig took himself out of the lineup for the good of the team. I am always moved by this speech and touched by how simple and humble Henry Louis Gehrig really was. And even my father who hated the Yankees with a passion was moved by his speech. I myself maybe facing a medical issue that I have to come to terms with now I will think of Lou Gehrig in the way he carried himself in his last days and think I too can say I have been very lucky myself thank you for posting
One of the greatest men who ever lived. He will live forever in the hearts of men who believe in honor, integrity and living life to the fullest that God alone has granted. A Giant among men
Of course, he'd have got there. But to me, it's a moot point. Lou is a legendary athlete, the Iron horse, pride of the Yankees... Anyone who doesn't recognize and acknowledge his contributions to baseball and humanity, simply missed the boat. His consecutive games streak, is the most impressive, to me. And, if not for his 'bad break', would've gone on even further.
Understand the sentiment but he doesn’t need to be on that list to matter. If Clemente would have passed away with 2,999 hits it wouldn’t have changed a thing about his legacy.
George, but he didn’t. Lou did not have 500 home runs. 493 is not 500. He just wasn’t that good enough to have hit 500 home runs. Decent ball player but not in the 500th home run club
Its the first time I got to hear the whole speech. As I am typing this I am trying not to cry. I now understand much better why my father broke down when he heard the speech at Comiskey Park that day. It was all so touching and very sad that day Gehrig was a class act and gave the greatest speech I ever heard
Yes I know the speech was given at Yankee Stadium they stopped all the other games going on around the league so they could broadcast so they got to hear his speech@The Radio Broadcast Vault
We need more overbearing people calling out Republican misdeeds against our Democracy - all the obstruction in Congress, special perks exclusive to the richest individuals and corporations; voter suppression tactics; gerrymandering redistricted to favor Republicans; still claiming Biden did not win the election fair and square or that Chump is still the pretend president. And we need everyone to speak out strongly against the Republican Insurrection of January 6, 2021.
There were plenty of rogues back in those days, with institutionalized racism, no less. More recently, we've seen the likes of Tony Gwynn, Jim Thome, Clayton Kershaw and Ichiro grace the sport with their presence. Rose-colored glasses does a disservice to the older days as well as to the present.
Ernesto Lombardo I agree. They (class acts) exist. They just don’t (much like Gehrig) grab the headlines. Guys like him & them are always going to be the moon to some bombastic knucklehead’s sun, & I think that’s more our collective fault than it is theirs or the media’s.
This is what it means to be a HUMAN BEING !!! Love for all that support you. Forgiveness for all that oppose you. Understanding of how lucky we are to be here. Lou Gehring was such a wonderful, wonderful man.
I used to be one of those guys that would pride himself in not crying for anything. Lately I’ve been becoming more emotional. Here I am crying realizing I’m less than 10 years away from being older than Lou ever was, and realizing how much life he had left. It’s heart breaking and for him to make the speech about being thankful instead of bitter. I know he can’t see this but you’re an inspiration Lou
So now I know why I haven't heard the speech in his words. It's partly lost. But the words are there, and the love of the sport, despite the obvious weakness when he cannot even hold the trophy, and almost falls, placing it down. This is a man to admire.
75 years later and no cure!! They still don't know what causes it. So much for giving $$ to research. The government and pharmaceutical companies pocket all those donations.
@@barb6868 ol I understand now about ALS my brother in law is 81 years old and came down with ALS 4 years ago I don't know how he's doing had a very big argument with my sister in August .and haven't spoken to her since she lives in SC and I'm in NY .the last time I did speak with her He was falling down a lot ..I was told the younger you are it kills you faster and I'm sure you're right about were the money for research is really going a real shame
@@josephgiuffdrida5387 my dad died of ALS 2 years ago. He was 62 and only lived 5 months post diagnosis. It's a horrible disease and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
@@walkergillette3918 Just because you disagree with Mr. Olbermann politically does not mean he didn’t do an excellent job paying homage to Lou Gehrig. We’re better than that?
Lou Gehrig was the first person to have his number retired in any sport He will always have that Honaur rip Lou I never knew you but I would loved to just shake you're hand a real man to admire
What is always unique when hearing Lou give this speech rather than Gary Cooper's film version is that Lou had Bronx NY accent. He was born raised and schooled near Yankee Stadium you often think he came from Mt Olympus.
Exactly. I thought that Cooper did a wonderful job playing Lou, but he didn't do the sharp Bronx accent. Most actors didn't 'go there', back then. I mean Paul Muni could've done a Bronx accent, but would we want him, or Cooper playing Gehrig? See what I mean. Still, Pride of the Yankees is one of my favorite baseball films. Up there with Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Bang the Drum Slowly,... And Theresa Wright as Gehrig's wife was impressive, too.
Mis mayores respetos para un gran jugador y ser humano que lucho como un guerrero a pesar de padecer esa terrible enfermedad Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrofica dio todo al béisbol fue de los mejores rompiendo records a pesar de la adversidad desgraciadamente esa horrible enfermedad es mortal LOU GHERIG VIVIRA PARA SIEMPRE
Thanks for letting us watch this long after it aired on tv. I'm not sure how much editing you did or even if you did any, but me and my class had to watch this for Public Speaking Class, and I find it quite informative and powerful.
It’s devastating disease. My 42 yr old brother in law stood in church to give his speech after stricken. Seems when facing such it clears one mind of all but life truths.
Don't always agree with Olbermann, especially when it comes to politics, but no one does stuff like this better than he does. He's going to start a new podcast soon. I hope he focuses more on history than current events.
how do you manage to have this great man speaking on this occasion and not preserve the entire speech? i'm far closer to the part of humanity that screws things up than i am to lou but i'd like to think that i would have preserved this. thanks keith....
At the start of the 1938 season he took himself out of the lineup after first 8 games of the new season. 1937 he played a full season, signs of his illness were starting to show his batting average and struck out more than normal.
What a shame what happened to Lou Gehrig A Real Man He Was One of the greatest Ball Players Ever And if he didn't get ALS he would have been greater I have some disrespect for Cal Ripkin he should have Lou Geriic record alone Ripkin was a great ball player but he was not a Lou Gehrig Lou Gehrig was a champion Triple crown winner Cal Ripkin only won 1world series And he really wasn't loved by all his teammates .Rip Lou I never knew you But you were and idle to me always
To think super billionaires like Bezos and Musk spent 6 billion dollars each to barely scratch the surface the emptiness of space, when that money could have been used for ALS research.
Yeah, Olbermann speaks highly of Lou but if Lou had an unfavorable stance to Olbermann on abortion, homosexual rights, or immigration, you can bet that Olbermann would have mercilessly skewered Lou.
@@TheBatugan77 My point was that EVERYBODY needs to talk about politics, or the bad guys will get away with another January 6th type insurrection against the United States and reinstalling the blowhard orangutan back in the chair as their puppet President. Hate, violence and racist Right-Wing propaganda is spreading via Murdoch's FauxNews and other anti-liberal, anti-democratic conspiracy media outlets. Your BootJammed comment makes me wonder if you already drank their coolaid. May God save you if you have.
We begin, with just how big of a joke Booberman is; a hall of fame wanna be; a legend in his own mind; as we commemorate his accomplishments, a small task as he has none; we remember him for what he was not; and memorialize what he is….a has been that never was…..😂😂😂😂😂
