Pride of the Yankees Page #9

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2,130 consecutive ball games...

...over a period of 16 years.

Everyone is here to show him

just what they feel in their hearts.

To say hail and farewell

to the pride of the Yankees.

The emotion on all sides is tremendous.

Around home plate,

all the celebrities standing there.

The beginning of the ceremonies,

Joe McCarthy comes forward.

Hands Lou Gehrig a plaque.

On that plague are two words. "Don't guit."

Nothing in Gehrig's nature

was the guitter type.

McCarthy puts it down, turns around,

receives a trophy and in turn...

...gives that trophy to Lou Gehrig.

The trophy is a trophy from the Yankees,

the teammates of Gehrig.

Here comes the mayor of New York City.

Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.

LaGuardia addresses a few words,

perhaps what Gehrig has meant to this city.

LaGuardia turns around, extends his hand,

and shakes hands with Lou.

Gehrig visibly impressed

with all this demonstration of affection.

Postmaster General of the United States,

Jim Farley.

Farley shakes Gehrig's hand,

Gehrig again trying to manage a smile.

Now, Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat.

Babe talks into the microphone.

Praise from the man who preceded

Lou Gehrig in the batting order.

Babe walks over and puts his arms

around Gehrig's shoulders.

Here they are. The heart of the

Murderer's Row of the Yankees.

Gehrig with his eyes down.

Manager Joe McCarthy addresses some remarks,

drawing applause from the boys.

McCarthy walks over to Gehrig, puts his

hand affectionately on his shoulder...

...starts leading Lou Gehrig over

to a whole galaxy of microphones.

He'll be saying a few words.

This whole crowd in the stadium hopes so.

Gehrig stands at the microphones,

visibly impressed, all choked up.

Listen to that crowd!

I have been walking on

ball fields for 16 years...

...and I've never received anything but...

...kindness and encouragement...

...from you fans.

I have had the great honor...

...to have played...

...with these great veteran

ballplayers on my left...

...Murderer's Row...

...our championship team of 1927.

I have had the further

honor of living with...

...and playing with these men on my right...

...the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees of today.

I have been given...

...fame and undeserved praise...

...by the boys up there

behind the wire in the press box...

...my friends, the sportswriters.

I have worked under

the two greatest managers of all time...

...Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy.

I have a mother and father...

...who fought to give me health...

...and a solid background in my youth.

I have a wife...

...a companion for life...

...who has shown me

more courage than I ever knew.

People all say that I've had a bad break...

...but today...

Today I consider myself...

...the luckiest man on

the face of the earth.

Play ball!

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