Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Lou Gehrig's accomplishments on the field made him an American hero, but his career was in majority overshadowed by Ruth and DiMaggio. Lou’s is most remembered by having a record 2,130 consecutive games played, all 13 years worth. His record stood for 62 years until Cal "Iron Man" Ripken broke it in 1998. Lou spent his whole career with the New York Yankees. Lou was the son of German immigrants. Lou’s parents wanted Lou to become an engineer. Lou had different ideas and became one of the best Yankee baseball players ever. In 1921 Lou attended Columbia University to study engineering, and to play baseball and football. While in college, the New York Giants manager John McGraw had talked Lou to play summer pro-ball under a different name "Henry Lewis". McGraw wanted Lou to get professional experience although it was illegal for a college athlete to play a professional sport. After playing 12 games Gehrig found out playing pro ball while still in college is illegal. After college coaches saw his name on the pro-teams roster he was ineligible from playing at Columbia again. After college in 1923 Lou signed with the New