Pride of the Yankees Page #8

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- Yeah.

Bill.

What's the matter with Lou?

You're out.

I certainly came down here

like an old ice wagon.

- That should have been a hit, easy.

- They can't all be hits.

I tell you, maybe you're trying too hard.

You can't try too hard.

Why don't you hit the shower,

and take the rest of the day off?

No. I need a lot of work.

The old man made it, six times around.

It's worse than being a golf widow, waiting

for your husband to run around a park.

I'm sorry to be so long.

- So, I'm slowing up?

- Sure.

I'll get a wheelchair and push you around.

What an exhibition. You call that baseball?

Gehrig booted the game.

Threw it down the drain.

That's a batting champion for you.

- Did you see him swing like an old lady?

- It's criminal.

They ought to give you your money back.

That game was just booted away.

I got better support than that

in the bush leagues.

Shut up.

I can't pitch and play first base, too.

That old man on first ought to have

some crutches to get around with.

What goes on here?

Just talked out of turn.

Save the fight for the field, boys.

You watch, Gehrig will come back.

He always does.

Every ballplayer has a slump eventually,

but in this case, it isn't just a slump.

It's obviously a breakdown.

- That's a lie.

- A dirty lie.

No, sir, he ain't through.

I tell you, Mr. Gehrig can't be through.

Gehrig'll come back.

He's made of iron. You wait and see.

15 years, then all of a sudden, he goes sour.

What's the answer?

Gehrig must be having trouble with his teeth.

Get back.

Strike two.

Strike three.

Joe.

You'd better send someone in for me.

I can't make it anymore.

You sure you want it that way?

Yup.

Dahlgren, get in there at first.

- Good luck.

- Thanks.

Your attention, please!

Dahlgren...

...now playing first base for New York...

...replacing Gehrig.

2,130 games.

14 years.

Play ball!

It's a routine, I'm telling you.

In a place like this,

they give you the x-ray...

...the cardiograph, the metabolism,

the fluoroscope, the works.

Then they're liable to tell you got dandruff.

It's happened time and again.

A friend came here...

Got any chewing gum, Sam?

Had a talk with the doctor the other day.

He said he never ran up against

a better physical specimen.

Strong as an ox, he said you were.

Talked to the x-ray guy, too.

What a send-off he gave you.

Heart okay, lungs okay, everything okay.

I'll bet you...

Here's the doc.

How did I do, Doctor?

I'm afraid you'll have to

give up baseball for a while.

- You see, Mr. Gehrig...

- Go ahead, Doc.

I'm a man who likes to

know his batting average.

I've only made a superficial examination

of the tests.

We shall need some new x-rays.

Give it to me straight, Doc.

Am I through with baseball?

I'm afraid so.

Any worse than that?

You heard what the doc said.

He's got to go over the tests again.

Is it three strikes, Doc?

You want it straight?

Sure I do, straight.

It's three strikes.

Doc, I've learned one thing.

All the arguing in the world

can't change the decision of the umpire.

How much time have I got?

Pardon me.

- Yes?

- Mrs. Gehrig is waiting.

Have her come up, please.

I don't want Mrs. Gehrig to know, ever.

I understand.

- But the newspapers...

- Sam here can take care of that.

- Can't you, Sam?

- Sure. I will.

Leave it to me. I'll cook up something...

Hi, Ellie.

Darling, the verdict's in.

I'm not such a bad ballplayer.

I've really got something, haven't I?

What is it?

I'd be cured by the time

I could learn to pronounce it.

- Can you pronounce it, Doctor?

- We really haven't concluded all our tests.

Excuse me.

- Yes?

- X-ray room is ready, Doctor.

Thank you.

Just one more picture, Mr. Gehrig.

Just one more for the record, Doc?

Right back, Ellie.

You'll never get all the pictures

of Lou into that scrapbook.

You'd think he was a glamour boy.

What did the doctor tell Lou?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Some little thing with a long name.

Some kind of an "itis," I don't know.

He'll have to lay off for a while. So what?

He'll be back next season,

or the season after.

Tell me the truth, Sam.

I am telling the truth, honest.

I'd swear on a stack of Bibles.

You heard what the doctor said.

When is Lou going to die?

- Who told you?

- Nobody had to tell me.

I could read it in your eyes.

All of you.

It's all right, Sam.

I'll never let him know I know.

He's so young yet, so strong, and...

Ladies and gentlemen.

Lemonade, peanuts, and popcorn.

Given away free today

in honor of the great Lou Gehrig.

Bulletin.

Gehrig Day not a farewell but a come-on.

A ballyhoo to get more

money out of the Yanks...

...when Gehrig comes back

to the game next season.

Know what? We're gonna knock 'em dead

when we come back.

Do you think we can get $50,000

out of those tightwads?

Not a cent under $100,000.

It stands to reason, you'll be twice

as good after you've had a rest.

You know...

...we've never had a honeymoon.

Why shouldn't we have one now?

Sure. Better late than never.

What about Niagara Falls?

Sure. Then we could go up

to northern Canada and go fishing.

I've been thinking maybe

we could take a trip around the world.

All the things we've never

had time for before.

We've all the time in the

world now, haven't we?

We've got all the time in the world now.

You're a scream in that moustache.

What's that?

Take it out and see.

Open it.

I had that made up

of some of the hardware I've collected.

Like it?

I adore it.

I remember when you got

every one of these medals.

That's the one I got the most kick out of.

The batting championship I won

the year we were married.

Here, Ellie.

I've got a right to cry a little.

It's such a beautiful thing.

I wanted you to have it...

...because you've given me so much.

You've been so...

- Are you making love to me, you big ape?

- You bet I am, you dope.

Gehrig Day program.

It's Lou Gehrig.

Look. There's Lou Gehrig.

Right this way, Mr. Gehrig. Give him room.

- Stand back.

- Hello, Lou, old boy.

- When are you coming back, Lou?

- We sure miss you.

Mr. Gehrig, please.

Don't you remember me?

You knocked out two home runs for me

one afternoon.

Sure. I remember you.

- How are you?

- Just great.

I've been waiting here all afternoon

because I had to tell you something.

I just got in town today,

and I had to tell you.

I did what you said.

I tried hard, and I made it.

Look, I can walk.

That's great work, kid.

That's wonderful.

- Have you got a ticket for the game?

- Yes, sir, you bet.

- So long.

- So long.

62,000 people have jammed

the Yankee Stadium...

...to pay tribute to a man who, for 16 years,

has given everything that's in him.

Never in baseball has there been

such a spontaneous demonstration...

...of love and affection for one man.

He's known as "Larruping Lou"

and "The Iron Horse."

No matter what, he'll never be forgotten.

Nor will his great records.

They'll never forget his greatest record.

His amazing feat of playing

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