As mentioned previously, the speech was delivered seventy-three years ago, in 1939. he knew he wouldn't be … well he was dying of what they call in the present Lou Gehrigs disease. He hit an average of .300 or better, and he drove in more than 150 runs in each season he played. The backdrop of Lou Gehrig’s speech is extremely important in considering why his speech was so rhetorically effective. This disease had no known cure at the time, and it was progressing quickly. Lou Gehrig was significant to the 1920’s, and the 1930’s due to the fact that he changed the history of baseball, he showed his positivity which allowed him to face a disease which is now commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and the tremendous inspiration he was to his peers and his teammates. Gehrig was by far the most famous person of his time to develop the disease, so it was renamed after his death in 1941. Did The Iron Horse and future Hall of Famer not understand what most of us here know would happen to him as time progressed? When he was diagnosed with ALS, he had to quit his baseball career. On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig delivered his famed "Luckiest Man" speech in front of a sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium “He was a special man who articulated the best of the human spirit (Rubin, 683).”  Lou Gehrig was known as an inspiration to his peers and his teammates because of his humble attitude and willingness to share his knowledge of the game with others (Burns). About Lou Gehrig. That is why you might hear ALS being referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” nearly as often – or possibly even more often – than you will hear it being referred to as its real name. Although there is no cure for the disease, there are a number of medicines that can slow the disease and improve symptoms. It has been considered the “Gettysburg Address” of baseball, and I think part of the reason is because the speech was said at Old Yankee Stadium. Alright, im suppose to first identify a specific example or "Adjustment"------> Explain how the authors adjusted to meet the demographics of their audience. About Lou Gehrig. Pathos. In this section Hot Stove Tracker ... 2020 Postseason 2021 Regular Season 2021 Spring Training 2020 Regular Season Important Dates Probable Pitchers Team by Team Schedule National Broadcasts Sunday Night Broadcasts. As mentioned previously, the speech was delivered seventy-three years ago, in 1939. While these questions lead to more questions which lead to more, I like to think the answer is simple. ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Whether recited by fans of America’s Pastime or by Yankees followers, by those who look to it for strength fighting this horrendous disease now or by loved ones of those they’ve lost – the weight these words carry is unfathomable. The backdrop of Lou Gehrig’s speech is extremely important in considering why his speech was so rhetorically effective. In 1969 the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted Gehrig the greatest first baseman of all time, [11] and he was the leading vote-getter on the MLB All-Century Team chosen by fans in 1999. Why do I feel ¼ of an ounce of an endless crushing weight is lifted when I think about this particular phrase? As a first baseman for the New York Yankees baseball team, Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games from 1925 to 1939, setting a major league record and had a career batting average of .340. Louis was the only one of the Gehrig’s children to survive infancy (Graff, 294). Lou Gehrig. There's no cure for ALS. At this time, the country was slowly recovering from the Great Depression and war was imminent in Europe. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Lou Gehrig was a top-notched baseball player affected by ALS. Gehrig’s speech can be found on the list of top 100 speeches because of the humility that Gehrig showed and because of how it led America to the shocking realization that no one is invincible. I might have had a tough break, but I have a lot to live for (Gehrig, The Sporting News, 685).” Two years later on June 2, 1941, Louis Henry Gehrig passed away from the fatal disease he had so well fought (James). Lou (we might’ve never met, but I feel like we’re on a first-name basis now) knew his impact would someday transcend the game and his disease would outlast his career .340 batting average. Why was Lou Gehrig so important? Although disease progression varies case by case, the disease is incurable, with most patients dying within three to four years. Lou Gehrig uses several rhetorical strategies to support his purpose. The speech itself has become the stuff of legend, even though no complete recording, on film or audio, remains. In his Farwell Address to baseball, Lou Gehrig uses parallel structure to emphasize the statements that are truly important to him. The answer has always been in front of me whether I chose to acknowledge it or not. He grew up in New York where his mom worked as a maid and his father, whose health was poor, bounced from job to job. It is because I consider myself the luckiest man in the world for being allowed the time I did have with my inspiration in life. Gehrig played with the New York Yankees for 17 years and received the moniker “The Iron Horse” due to his ability to play baseball despite suffering from a variety of … ... inspiring speech in which he thanked the people who’d been important … The Gehrigs then moved to ... That's why when you Google "Larchmont and Lou Gehrig," the third item that comes up is a 2011 story about the ... where Lou jotted down notes for his speech… As mentioned previously, the speech was delivered seventy-three years ago, in 1939. Lou Gehrig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative condition in which motor neurons that control muscle function are impaired. The next day, he was the starting first baseman (Graff, 294). You are the luckiest man (woman, mother, daughter, father, son, husband, wife, uncle, aunt, cousin, niece, nephew, grandfather, grandmother) in the world for having had shared those precious moments and little time you were allotted. RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF LOU GEHRIG FAREWELL SPEECH ADISON SITTIG SITUATION Exigence Audience Purpose Situation Lou Gehrig was a famous Yankee baseball player who was diagnosed with what is now called Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS. Asked by Wiki User. His speech is our decree. For me, Gehrig’s speech serves as a reminder. ALS usually strikes when a person is 40 to 70 years old. He made adjustments and continued to stay positive and inspire others to keep a positive attitude in all circumstances as well. - M.J. The war cry of an elite group of individuals who span across the world but are united by tears, heartache, anger, pain, support, love, laughter, and strength. Muscle weakness, slurred speech, twitching are common signs. See the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge progress! It needs to be managed with drugs, physical therapy, nutritional support, and counseling. At this time, the country was slowly recovering from the Great Depression and war was imminent in Europe. He continued by saying “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. It needs to be managed with drugs, physical therapy, nutritional support, and counseling. It comes from a woman whose spirit was contagious, laughter was infectious, and love graced many. Was he referring to the four home runs he hit in a single game? Gehrig learned not to fall into self-pity after being diagnosed with his fatal disease, he continued to do the things he loved, but in a different way. Although many see his situation as unfortunate he assures them that he is the "luckiest man in the world." lou gehrigs disease and other kinds of academic papers in our essays database at Many Essays. … When I pause the typing, I want you to recognize something. His mentioning of a tough break represents his soon death, but his views on his life show hope and acceptance. Helping with many boys’ baseball clubs, he was able to share his knowledge and passion of the game with boys who admired him the most (Graff, 295). At first, Gehrig was unable to respond due to overwhelming emotions that brought him to the point of tears. Lou Gehrig Speech Analysis 1622 Words | 7 Pages. Lou was commonly known by his fans as the “Iron Horse” because of his durability and consistency while hitting (Robinson). Gehrig’s story is important because it shows that even after someone has been diagnosed with ALS, they can still make meaningful contributions and live full lives. It was 1938 when Lou Gehrig began experiencing symptoms of ALS. ALS is a disease that damages nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, which affects the patient’s ability to move. The war cry of an elite group of individuals who span across the world but are united by tears, heartache, anger, pain, support, love, laughter, and strength. for 1+3, enter 4. So i have to find retorical Devices, but cant really point out any (not very good at this) So if you help me, I promise ill choose you as best answer! Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password. Lou had the worst luck in having the spotlight taken from him. Favorite Quote:Life is like a box of cheese and flower petal sometimes it's soft and sweet, sometimes it just plain stinks. Most people know it better by the name “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” But they may not know why the disease is called that or who the man behind the name was. This also makes the speech hopeful and optimistic. His purpose in this speech is to thank his fans and to explain how he has lived a good and fortunate life, even with ALS. He was eventually pulled from participating in all athletics due to the fact that he had played professional baseball with the Hartford team while attending Columbia College. Lou Gehrig Analysis. Seventy-five years ago Lou Gehrig delivered his famous farewell speech, widely regarded as the greatest speech in sports history. [12] I know that he had ALS and he had to retire and ALS was not known by really anyone back then but can someone explain why exactly it was so important? If all I gave was love, would you give up on me? The backdrop of Lou Gehrig’s speech is extremely important in considering why his speech was so rhetorically effective. While hitting in the cleanup spot, he hit 493 homeruns, 23 of them being grand slams. Unable to find a chapter based on your location. Based on your location, the local chapter closest to you is the. He once hit four home runs in a game. On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig delivered his famed "Luckiest Man" speech in front of a sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. The Lou Gehrig Memorial Trophy was awarded to the most valuable player in the annual Hearst Sandlot Classic. Why did Lou Gehrig give the farewell to baseball speech? Lou Gehrig’s ALS Struggle. Gehrig's "Farewell Speech" is one of the most recognizable speeches not only in sports, but in history. He stopped playing professional ball, and in 1922 he became a member of the Columbia baseball team. Gehrig was a part of the 1936, 1937, and 1938 World Series championships. Lou Gehrig was born to German immigrant parents in 1903. He was elected Most Valuable Player for the American League in 1927, 1931, 1934, and 1936. Test results were received and it showed that Gehrig had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a hardening of the spinal cord creating symptoms similar to infantile paralysis (Rose). His third paragraph shows the great things he got during life, the things he considers blessings. “I consider myself the luckiest man in the world…”. (Robinson, 683). English Composition 1301 26 May 2012 Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech Analysis Imagine a young boy and his father going to the New York Yankees ballpark on a warm sunny day. The onset of Lou Gehrig disease symptoms usually occurs between the ages of 50 and 65. Gehrig was convinced to attend school, and play football, and baseball at Columbia College (Graff, 294). Lou Gehrig on the Columbia ... There’s no exact record of what Gehrig said in his “luckiest man” speech. From June 1, 1925, to May 2, 1939, Gehrig appeared in 2,130 consecutive games, a record that stood until it was broken on September 6, 1995, by Cal Ripken, Jr. When Lou Gehrig spoke, there was a loud echo throughout the stadium. After two years of conditioning and training, Lou became a permanent member of the New York Yankee’s baseball team. Lou’s father was an ironworker, and occasionally worked as a tinsmith, mechanic, and a janitor. Lou Gehrig’s disease’s early symptoms are: Muscle cramps; Arm or leg spasms Facts about Lou Gehrig’s disease 10: ice bucket challenge.