Eleanor Gehrig, Lou Gehrig’s wife, carried on his legacy and made contributions to research on Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS after Gehrig passed away.
Lou Gehrig, whose full name is Henry Louis Gehrig, was born on June 19, 1903, and played first base for the New York Yankees for 17 seasons in the MLB.
Furthermore, people knew Gehrig as “The Iron Horse” due to his durability and skill as a hitter; he played in the MLB from 1923 to 1939.
Interestingly, he won the Triple Crown once and was selected by the All-Star team seven times in a row.
In addition to being a member of six World Series-winning teams, he also earned the title of American League (AL) MVP twice.
Moreover, Gehrig hit four home runs in a single game, making him one of only eighteen players to achieve this feat.
In addition, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 for his contributions to the game.
Remarkably, Gehrig became the first MLB player to have his uniform number retired by a team when the Yankees retired his number four.
Unfortunately, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, now known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, took Lou Gehrig’s life on June 2, 1941, when he was 37 years old.
Yankees' Lou Gehrig delivers his infamous speech to Yankee Stadium, 1939 pic.twitter.com/r4Ml9tWb8j
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) July 7, 2024
Elanor Gehrig, Lou Gehrig’s Wife, Was a Sports Executive, Socialite, Memoirist, and Philanthropist
Born on March 6, 1904, Eleanor Twitchell was an American memoirist, sports executive, socialite, and philanthropist.
In addition, she is the daughter of Nellie and Frank Twitchell and was born and reared in Chicago.
She had a brother named Frank, and according to Eleanor’s memoir, she grew up in Chicago during the Roaring Twenties.
Elanor Twitchell and Lou Gehrig got married on September 29, 1933, in their flat at 5 Circuit Road in New Rochelle.
Interestingly, Gehrig and Twitchell first connected at a party when he was in town for a game. They reconnected later, which cemented their relationship.
Additionally, Gehrig received care from Eleanor, who accompanied him on many of his business travels.
After Lou died in 1941, she continued to support ALS research, and in 1976, she wrote her autobiography, “My Luke and I.”
In addition, they appointed her vice president of the AAFC in 1945, a new professional football league that aimed to rival the NFL.
As a result, she became the first American woman to hold an executive position in a sports league.
Eleanor Gehrig Continued Her Husband’s Legacy Until Her Death
After Gehrig’s death, Eleanor managed his estate, which was about $3 million.
She also auctioned off his memorabilia to raise six million dollars for the cause during World War II.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt also recognised her for her work with the American Red Cross Motor Corps.
Eleanor remained committed to her husband’s legacy despite legal challenges from Gehrig’s parents and efforts to prevent commercial use of his image.
As the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Campaign Chair, she urged Congress to establish a national institute on multiple sclerosis and provide funding for disease research.
Eleanor never remarried and dedicated her entire life to improving the lives of others before passing away on her 80th birthday in 1984.
Among her donations were $100,000 to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Columbia University, and the Rip Van Winkle Foundation.
Her worries about Gehrig’s death led to the founding of the Eleanor and Lou ALS Centre and the Lou Gehrig Society.
Journalist Sean Kirst’s essay “The Ashes of Lou Gehrig” from 2003 explores Eleanor’s worries about Gehrig’s grave because of vandalism.
Furthermore, it mentions her wish to have her ashes mixed with his after she dies.
Additional Information
- Eleanor co-produced the song “I Can not Get to First Base With You” with Fred Fisher in 1935.
- Eleanor wanted Gehrig’s image to be used for the public good, so in the 1960s she prevented an alcohol company from using it for an advertisement.
- Her autobiography was adapted into a television movie in 1976 called A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story, in which Blythe Danner played her.
