Article:It's Been 68 Years

The funeral service for Lou Gehrig was as simple and as modest as the man. On a rainy day in New York, only about 100 relatives, friends, and associates were at Christ Church in Riverdale. The Gehrig family requested that there would be no eulogy. None was necessary. The ceremony lasted eight minutes.

Bill Dickey and Bill Terry

Bill Dickey, who roomed with Lou Gehrig, flew in from Detroit, where the Yankees had played the Tigers. Bill told reporters, "Lou and I had an agreement that, whoever went first, the other would see him off." New York Giants manager Bill Terry, a man who had the reputation of being unemotional, choked up as the coffin passed him and tried to unobtrusively brush away tears.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruth

Mr. and Mrs. Babe Ruth arrived at the Gehrig residence at one o'clock in the morning. Babe expressed his deep regrets and sympathy. He broke down when he viewed the coffin the next night.

Mrs Gehrig Acquiesced

The funeral was private, but the public had viewed the body the previous day. Original plans had called for no public viewing, but so many individuals clamored to pay their respects that Mrs. Gehrig acquiesced. There was a line of people three blocks long, and it was estimated that 5,000 viewed the body.

Modesty, Courage, and Sincerity

Jean Horie, the executive secretary of the New York Youth Congress expressed America's feelings, especially its youngsters. "It was not so much the fact that he was a successful ball player, nor that he was famous, but it was rather that with all his prominence he maintained his modesty, courage, and sincerity."

As Long As He Wants to Play

Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy refused to take Lou out of the lineup despite his developing awareness of Lou's deteriorating health. "Gehrig plays as long as he wants to play." McCarthy knew that once Gehrig realized he was hindering the Yankees, he would bench himself.

Frank Crosetti

Baseball men and politicians paid tribute to Lou Gehrig, but it was Frank Crosetti who expressed it best. "Everybody loved Lou. You couldn't help it. He was in there everything he had every minute of the game and before the game and after the game."

Nothing Spectacular 

Lou Gehrig was never spectacular, although he produced spectacular feats. When Edward Hermann was selected to play Gehrig in the television movie, "A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story," the actor had difficulty. "What made it so tough is I could find no 'key' to his character. There was no strangeness, nothing spectacular about him. As Eleanor Gehrig told me, he was just a square, honest guy."

References:

SORROWFUL CROWD IN FINAL TRIBUTE :Civic Leaders, Sport Notables and Fans View Gehrig's Body, Lying in State SIMPLE RITES ARRANGED Only Close Friends Will Be Admitted to Services at 10 O'Clock This Morning. (1941, June 4). New York Times (1857-Current file),29. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 87617655).

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR GEHRIG IS HELD :Relatives, Friends, Associates Present at Simple Rites in Riverdale Church HARRIDGE, FRICK ATTEND McCarthy, Dickey, Barrow Among Others at Ceremony -- Hundreds Stand in Rain. (1941, June 5). New York Times (1857-Current file),29. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 87618467).

JEAN HORIE.Executive secretary, New York Youth Congress.. (1941, June 7). A TRIBUTE TO GEHRIG :New York Youth Congress Mourns Passing of Star. New York Times (1857-Current file),14. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 87620006).

GEHRIG, 'IRON MAN' OF BASEBALL, DIES AT THE AGE OF 37 :Rare Disease Forced Famous Batter to Retire in 1939 -- Played 2,130 Games in Row SET MANY HITTING MARKS Native of New York, He Became Star of Yankees -- Idol of Fans Throughout Nation GEHRIG, 'IRON MAN' OF BASEBALL, DIES GEHRIG AS A PLAYER AND AFTER HE RETIRED FROM BASEBALL. (1941, June 3). New York Times (1857-Current file),1. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 87616428).

La Guardia and Baseball Chiefs Pay Tribute to Gehrig's Memory :Mayor Praises Civic Contributions of Former Ball Player -- Yankees Stunned by Passing of Ex-Tcam-Mate BASEBALL MEN PAY TRIBUTE TO GEHRIG. (1941, June 3). New York Times (1857-Current file),26. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 87616868).

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