Summary
Like a powerful locomotive, Lou Gehrig slugged his way through 14 years as the pride of the Yankees. Never missing a game, the six-time All-Star set the American League record with 184 RBIs in 1931, hit a record 23 grand slams, earned two Most Valuable Player awards, and won the 1934 Triple Crown. Refusing to see himself as a natural, Gehrig achieved greatness through an unwavering dedication to practice. Then, suddenly, the Iron Man began to rust. The home runs ceased. The hits became misses. Gehrig had contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Yet, by harnessing the strength he had displayed on the baseball diamond, Lou Gehrig struggled onward with dignity and purpose. Though the disease that now bears his name ultimately took Lou Gehrig's life, it did not extinguish his spirit or his legacy. Lou Gehrig is an engrossing biography that celebrates a man who was not only a baseball great, but also an American hero.
About the Author(s)
Ronald A. Reis is the author of 13 books, including young adult biographies of Eugenie Clark and Jonas Salk. He is the chairman of the technology department at Los Angeles Valley College.