Luckiest Man On the Face of the Earth

It was on this day in 1939 that Lou Gehrig described himself as the luckiest man on the face of the earth:

 

There aren't many speeches given by athletes that are better. Maybe not any.

 

I'm not sure I'd ever read the entire thing. That was very interesting. Thanks.

 

One of the greatest speeches ever. Athlete or otherwise.

 

Love that you posted the entire speech, Chris. Few know that the "face of the earth" line was in the second sentence. The real speech is so much more compelling than Gary Cooper's.

 

Liked Cooper's version. Love Lou's version.

I remember reading in a book on the '39 Yanks that although Ruth was hugging Gehrig after his speech, Gehrig didn't really hug Ruth back.

Apparently, Gehrig never really forgave Ruth for an incident that took place on their trip by ship to Japan in 1934. Gehrig's wife, Eleanor, apparently, spent an afternoon in Ruth's cabin, getting drunk, and doing God knows what else. It was part of the feud between the two, and Lou apparently still had a grudge against the Babe.

 

Loved the sound of Gehrig's speech... Oyth, not earth, like he's Carl Oyskin...

 

She wasn't warm and cuddly, apple pie wife, like Teresa Wright?

 

I love the line about the mother-in-law.

 

The real Eleanor even admitted she was somewhat of a flapper in the late '20s.

 

Absolutely. Eig is a great writer.

I consider that one to be even better than his Jackie Robinson book.