Joe Castiglione & Dave O'Brien, Red Sox Pregame

Thanks very much John certainly Lou Gehrig gave the best known speech in Major League history seventy years ago today in front of almost 70000. People at Yankee Stadium. There.

You've been reading about a man red yeah. Today. I consider myself. Good -- you're on man. On the face of the -- I might have. Been given a bad -- But I've got an awful lot deliver Florida thank.

Gary just return to the Yankees have their visit to the Mayo clinic where AL as was diagnosed this fatal disease which remains -- Universally fatal to this day. And do a great courageous act by one of the most underrated players in based.

history. I wonder why it is to -- because when you look at his accomplishments. And you put his RBIs in his home run tolls and everything else alongside the game's greats. He stacks up you know with Babe Ruth and anyone else you want a name I mean. These days is Albert polls continues to do extraordinary things with a St. Louis Cardinals. He is achieving or equaling many of the things that Lou Gehrig did many decades ago the it incredible thing about this speech and I know your read extensively about Gehrig's life in his death. He was not supposed to speak that day this was impromptu -- this. Turned out to be one of the great speeches of the twentieth century certainly by an athlete. And yet his head was bowed at the time when they were giving him gifts and his teammates were lined up along the file line and all of Yankee Stadium was in rapture. He wasn't supposed to speak in any steps up then and he knocked it out of the ballpark.

He really daddy was urged to speak by year Babe Ruth and at the time. They've had a lot of problems they didn't get along all that well some blame the wives is in the hallways of the case that I think that's not fair of course but that. They did make up bay gave them a big hug and -- is that they their reason he is underrated is in his overshadowed by the babe. For all the years he played in new York at least until babe laughed and it's so ironic I visited the grave sites of both. And he's overshadowed in depth as well baby has this huge mausoleum. And this. Gigantic tombstone and right across the street -- his goes cemetery. In New York is where Lou Gehrig is laid arrested just a little heads don't you hardly even though.

Right and two years after this speech he passed away -- it was a along and been slow and very painful death. For Lou Gehrig and later of course as you mentioned. The disease was effectively named after Lou Gehrig in that speech listening to it and how it's still resonates to this day seventy years later. Is very mindful to me and in for the current generation to Jimmy V speech Jim -- on those great speech. The don't give up don't ever give up speech. Which I think mark the end for him he was in tremendous pain is using that podium that day that night at the awards ceremony for the espy's and and engage just an incredible speech and it's it's amazing that. Athletes and coaches afflicted right in the prime of their lives and right now the prime of their careers. Can give such eloquent and articulate speeches which will be remembered among the greatest they have ever heard from politicians or raiders for all time.

Probably remembered more than their athletic accomplishments on the field. Involve autos Casey won the NCAA with North Carolina -- we -- running around looking for somebody got hot but I think he's best remembered. For that speech and Lou Gehrig's remembered more for this than the 493. Home run. And afterwards he went on to give two years of his life working for the city of New Yorkers a parole officer and was very influential in. And helping other people Linda from all accounts just an absolutely. Wonderful man and today in and out -- raise awareness and financial support for organizations leading the fight against AL as the Red Sox join the rest of Major League Baseball. In conducting an on the field ceremony which will happen here shortly. All on field personnel were -- for which was lose number ALS patch and the same logo will appear on top -- first base which is being installed as we speak.

All right so everyone remembers they remember the words and and such a touching moment there a man who knew he was dying. And his last public words effectively work on the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

Historian Lou -- here. On the seventieth anniversary of his speech on the fourth of July John.