The Pride of North Dakota
PRĪDE , N .
6 . THE BEST OF A CLASS , GROUP , SOCIETY , ETC .; PICK ; FLOWER ; AS , THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES .¹
By Tom Dickson
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
July 4 , 1939 Yankee Stadium • New York , New York
They came from every borough in the city . From Brooklyn by train . From Queens by bus . From Staten Island by ferry . From Manhattan by foot . Today , all roads lead to the Bronx . Some came early , trying to beat the rush . Others came later , lining up around the block . When the gates finally opened , they filled the place to the rafters . They came from every neighborhood in the city . Bushwick , Jackson Heights , Little Italy , Flatiron , even the Hamptons . They came in droves . A day no one would miss . A day they all would remember . A day the world still remembers . Even Babe Ruth came back .
Today , Lou Gehrig was retiring . Today , Lou Gehrig put on his uniform for the last time . He never took a day off . Played 2,130 consecutive games . Belted 23 grand slams . They called him the Iron Horse .
Lou Gehrig :
• Voted an all-star seven consecutive years .
• Triple crown winner
• Six world championships
• Voted by the Baseball Writers ’ Association as the “ greatest first baseman of all time .”
After the speeches and heartfelt accolades , he stood alone at the microphone on the infield grass , basking in the warmth of the early July sun and simply said : “ Today , I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth . Thank you .”
And then he walked off the field for the last time .
The Yankees played a baseball game that day . As they have done every summer since that day . Line-up cards are filled . Batters take practice . Starting pitchers warm up . Nine Yankees still take the field . Someone still plays first base . But no one , since that day , has worn a # 4 Yankee jersey . Lou Gehrig ’ s number was retired that day . The first baseball number retired in major league history . Since then , there have been many great Yankees , Hall of Fame Yankees , and beloved Yankees . More pennants , more rings , and more championships .
But after all these years , there is still only one Pride of the Yankees .
12 THE GAVEL