Derek Jeter ties Lou Gehrig in hits
Yankee Captain Set to Break Iron Horse's All-time Yankee Mark
Sep 10, 2009
Derek Jeter the current pride of the Yankees is on the verge of surpassing Lou Gehrig's Yankee record of 2,721 hits. Jeter tied the record by collecting three hits against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Jeters next hit will break a record that has stood for more than 70 years and it will push him past one of the most revered players in Yankee history.
A Key Member of Murderer's Row
Lou Gehrig played 17 seasons for the Yankees from 1923 to 1939. Gehrig, nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, played in 2,130 consecutive games a major league record that stood until 1995. In addition to his legendary endurance Gehrig was also one of baseball's greatest hitters. Gehrig and Babe Ruth were the backbone of Murderer's Row one of the hardest htting lineups in baseball history. In 1927 the bellwether year for Murderer's Row Gehrig hit .373, with 47 homeruns, and he drove in a then record 175 runs. For his spectacular career Gehrig hit .340, with 493 homeruns and 1995 RBIs.
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Gehrig's career was cut tragically short when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1939. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal illnes that affects the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord leading to complete paralysis. Gehrig died from the disease in 1941 at the age of 38.
The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth
Gary Cooper immortalized Gehrig by playing the slugger in the 1942 movie The Pride of the Yankees. The most famous scene in the film is from Gehrig's speech on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. In the speech Gehrig famously tells the fans he got a bad break. Yet he still considers himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth." The speech and Gehrig's career are the stuff legends are made of.
Will Jeter Join Gehrig in Monument Park
Gehrig as a result of his magnificent career had a monument dedicated to him in July of 1941 following his death. Gehrig's monument is in Monument Park an open air museum located beyond the center field wall at Yankee stadium. Monument Park contains monuments, plaques, and retired numbers honoring the best players from Yankee history. Jeter, who is 35, will probably play at least four or five more seasons meaning he will get well over 3,000 hits and he may even challenge Pete Rose's all-time hit record of 4,256 hits. With a resume like that there is no doubt that Jeter will join Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Miller Huggins as the only Yankees to be given monuments.
