The lost memoir

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Title:

The lost memoir

Author:

Gehrig, Lou, 1903-1941, author.

ISBN:

9781982132392

Edition:

1st Simon & Schuster hardcover ed.

Physical Description:

230 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 22 cm.

General Note:

Portions of this text were previously published in 1927 by The Oakland Tribune as Following the Babe.

Contents:

Intro -- Title Page -- Dedication -- Introduction -- The Lost Memoir -- Chapter 1 -- Chapter 2 -- Chapter 3 -- Chapter 4 -- Chapter 5 -- Chapter 6 -- Chapter 7 -- Chapter 8 -- Chapter 9 -- Lou: The Biographical Essay -- 1. Early Years -- 2. Columbia University to Yankee Stadium -- 3. The Minors -- 4. A Yankee Again -- 5. Murderers' Row -- 6. That Storybook Season -- 7. A Life Cut Short -- 8. Fading into History -- Roster -- Lou Gehrig's Regular Season Lifetime Stats -- Lou Gehrig's Tips on How to Watch a Ball Game -- Photographs -- Acknowledgments -- About the Author -- Notes -- Bibliography.

Personal Subject:

Gehrig, Lou, 1903-1941.

Corporate Subject:

New York Yankees (Baseball team)

Subject Term:

Baseball players -- United States -- Biography.

Baseball -- United States -- History -- 20th century.

Genre:

Autobiographies

Added Author:

Gaff, Alan D.,

Summary:

The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig-a major historical discovery, published for the first time as a book, with "color commentary" from historian Alan Gaff. In 1927, the legendary Lou Gehrig sat down to write the remarkable story of his life and career. He was at his peak, fresh off a record-breaking season with the fabled '27 World Series champion Yankees. It was an era unlike any other. Gehrig's personal remembrances were published that year as popular weekly columns in The Oakland Tribune. Until now, those pages were lost to history. Lou comes alive in his captivating memoir. It is a heartfelt rags-to-riches tale about a poor kid from New York who grew up to become one of the greatest. He takes us to his childhood home, to Columbia University where he flashed as a prospect, all the way to the dugout at Yankee Stadium where he recounts his first major league hit and bonding with Babe Ruth. There is a real poignancy to this tale. Built like a heavyweight boxer, "Iron Horse" Lou was one of the most powerful men to play the game. Off the field he was a shy, gentle soul. He would die prematurely from ALS, a degenerative neuromuscular disorder now known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Here is Lou back at bat-Hall of Famer, All Star, and MVP. Lou Gehrig is a monument and tribute to a singular life and career. --

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake)	921 GEHRIG	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	921 GEHRIG	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

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Summary

"A compelling rumination by a baseball icon and a tragic hero ." --Sports Illustrated

The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig--a sensational discovery, published for the first time as a book.

At the tender age of twenty-four, Lou Gehrig decided to tell the remarkable story of his life and career. He was one of the most famous athletes in the country, in the midst of a record-breaking season with the legendary 1927 World Series-winning Yankees. In an effort to grow Lou's star, pioneering sports agent Christy Walsh arranged for Lou's tale of baseball greatness to syndicate in newspapers across the country. Until now, those columns were largely forgotten and lost to history.

Lou comes alive in this inspiring memoir. It is a heartfelt rags-to-riches tale about a dirt poor kid from New York who became one of the most revered baseball players of all time.

Fourteen years after his account, Lou would tragically die from ALS, a neuromuscular disorder now known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. His poignant autobiography is followed by an insightful biographical essay by historian Alan D. Gaff. Here is Lou--Hall of Famer, All Star, and MVP--back at bat.

Author Notes

Alan D. Gaff is an independent scholar and the author of many books, including Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir , Bayonets in the Wilderness , Blood in the Argonne , and On Many a Bloody Field , hailed as "a masterpiece of Civil War scholarship" ( The Bookwatch ). He lives in Indiana.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In this surprising rediscovery, historian Gaff (Lou Gehrig) presents the lost memoir of New York Yankee Gehrig (1903--1941), written in 1927. In a conversational style, Gehrig discusses his humble childhood as the son of German immigrant parents in New York City and the respect he has for his other sports figures, such as teammate Babe Ruth, rival Ty Cobb, and manager Miller "Hug" Huggins. Gehrig's love for the game is palpable, especially after winning the 1927 World Series, of which he writes, "I'm proud of the game and all who play it. And as long as I wear a big-league uniform, I will give all I can to the game." Gaff follows up the memoir with a detailed look into Lou Gehrig's life, discussing his career and the exuberant excesses of the Yankees' hell-raising lifestyle (mainly Ruth's), as well as Gehrig's battle with ALS, with which he was diagnosed in 1939. Special mention is given to Gehrig's legacy; even in his final days, he dedicated his life to trying to help others who were suffering from their own hardships. Gaff's volume is a fitting tribute to an inspiring baseball legend. (May)

Kirkus Review

A baseball icon's rediscovered memoir, enhanced with biographical material by the independent scholar who found it. While researching another topic, Gaff stumbled upon a series of newspaper columns by Major League Baseball legend Lou Gehrig (1903-1941). Those columns, published by the Oakland Tribune in 1927, constitute 90 pages of this book, with Gaff's brief biography of Gehrig and other related material comprising the rest. Gehrig was only 24 when the columns appeared. They chronicle his youthful years in New York City, unlikely metamorphosis from an awkward wannabe athlete into a Yankees icon, and wide-eyed insights into becoming teammates with, among others, Babe Ruth, who "was the first one to give me advice about keeping in condition." Divided into nine chapters, the newspaper serial portrays a seemingly uncomplicated young man whose gratefulness for meteoric success contains no hint of jadedness. He lauds baseball at all skill levels as a tonic for American youngsters. Although Gehrig decided not to complete a college degree because the Yankees offered him a contract that he couldn't turn down, Gehrig advocates for "college men" to consider professional baseball as a career: "I believe [they] can contribute much to the good of the game--and it's a certain cinch that baseball can contribute much to the welfare and the benefit of the college man." Gaff's biographical essay contains strong research and clear prose; his account of Gehrig's rapid development as a talented slugger is especially inspiring. In 1939, as his athletic skills visibly diminished, Gehrig was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a relentless neurological disorder that is often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. In addition to the biographical information, Gaff also includes some material that will be a treat for Gehrig devotees, including "Lou Gehrig's Tips on How To Watch a Ball Game" as well as Gehrig's lifetime statistics and a roster of "the careers of the many players in Lou's narrative who are now largely unknown." A simple gem for baseball fans. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Lou Gehrig is one of the most revered heroes in American sports history, thanks both to his legendary career as the first baseman for the New York Yankees of the 1920s and '30s and, tragically, to his early death from ALS, now known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Encouraged by his agent, Gehrig wrote a memoir for the Oakland Tribune in 1927. Long forgotten until unearthed by Gaff while researching another project, it is now reprinted here, along with Gaff's context-providing essay on Gehrig's life. The memoir itself is typical of the era in which it was written: noncontroversial and a bit clichéd. But there are some revealing insights into Gehrig's view of his role on the Yankees and his feelings about fame, the latter enriched by his perspective, having risen from a modest upbringing to the pinnacle of sports success. Gaff's essay is notable for its focus on Gehrig's life after disease forced his retirement from the game, especially his work on the New York City Parole Board. Baseball fans with an interest in the game's history will find much to enjoy here.

Introduction	p. 1
The Lost Memoir	p. 9
Lou: The Biographical Essay	p. 103
Roster	p. 187
Lou Gehrig's Regular Season Lifetime Stats	p. 197
Lou Gehrig's Tips on How to Watch a Ball Game	p. 199
Acknowledgments	p. 201
Notes	p. 205
Bibliography	p. 215
Illustration Credits	p. 218
Index	p. 219

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review

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