Sorry folks, it was just a speech.

Gehrig's very legitimate and often spectacular accomplishments as a player have always been diminished by the maudlin excesses over this event.

Let me make my position clear. I think Gehrig is the best first baseman of all time, despite strong competition from Foxx, and Greenberg, and a monster early career by Pujols. That status doesn't make his closing speech a great moment.

His hitting four dingers in a game was, something only 14 players in baseball history have done. Although, with his usual luck it got upstaged by John McGraw retiiring on the same day.

Yankee fans should stop holding the wake.

Sports fans and non-sports fans alike all know Lou Gehrig's farewell speech

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A GREAT MANS CAREER CUT OFF BY A DISEASE...NOTHIN WILL EVER TOP IT..EXEEPT 4 DA 2003 ALCS 11TH INNING GAME 7

One of the great orations in the history of sports, or anything for that matter. In fact, Gehrig wasn't even supposed to speak and at the last minute he was encouraged by his friends and teammates to speak to the 80,000 plus fans that packed Yankee Stadium. (The original stadium was much larger in capacity than the current one. It was also much grander!)

THE BEST SPEECH EVER

This is not only a great sports moment, but a great historical moment.

If It weren't for Ruth, Gehrig would be the homerun champion of that time. Plus, he might have gotten 4 more years in if it weren't for that disease.

As usual, the greatest moments always comes from the Yankees. Gehrig's farewell speech is courageous and yup, embedded into baseball lure.

That was a great speech.

marvelous

Heart-touching speech, great for reciting! Had to do it in class, and all my friends loved it!!! (Even though many of them don't even know who Lou Gehrig is) ;-)

Short and sweet, good speech, but the guy was also known to have played some baseball. Most grand slams ever. I don't like Babe Ruth at all, but I liked Gehrig.

its was a great moment, but it had nothing to do with baseball itself!

It was a courageous speech, and it showed everyone that Lou Gehrig was the "Iron Man" in more ways than one. I wish we had sports figures like this today.

Sublime. Where are the Gehrigs of today?

This is sad and depressing. Gehrig's greatest and most memorable moments came on the field when he was vital and with it, not when he was used up and moribund.

Most definitely the most poignant and meaningful speech in sports history. Gehrig knew he was faces death but he held his head and his dignity high and poured his heart ot his fans and the people of New York. Bravo, Lou. We all know you're still knocking them out up there.

Gehrig delivered this speech on July 4, 1939, already stricken with the deadly nervous system illness ALS. He knew his time on earth was limited and he ended up dying two years later. It is amazing to hear that a man who knew he was slowly and inevitably descending into an abyss of sickness could be so brave. He said that he still considered himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth and that he was humbled to be standing with the honorable players on the field at the time. As stated, it has embedded itself in baseball lure and is a symbol of Americana. The sencerity and determination of the timorous Gehrig is truly touching. He faded away too early after being one of the greatest players in the history of the game, probably the best first baseman with astounding stats in RBIs and other offensive categories.