stephen R Harrison

On June 2, 1941, at age 37, baseball legend Lou Gehrig died exactly 16 years to the day he replaced Wally Pipp as first baseman with the New York Yankees. Best known for his 2,130 consecutive games played, Gehrig competed until he could no longer deal with the pain of what would later be known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” or ALS. Gehrig was known for his durability, playing through at least 17 hand fractures, earning him the nickname “The Iron Horse”. At his early retirement caused by ALS, he said, “I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for.” His number “4” was the first to be retired from any sport.

Gehrig is one of the all-time greatest baseball players to have played the game. Often overshadowed by his flamboyant teammate Babe Ruth, Gehrig was known for his humble and quiet lifestyle. Believing he was hurting his team, Gehrig retired, ending his playing streak. During his retirement speech, knowing something was severely physically wrong, Gehrig said, “I am the luckiest man alive.” He would die two years later. He was known for baseball, the disease that would take his life, but mostly for the humility by which he lived. He didn’t want to give a speech at an honorary retirement event, but fans chanted, “We want Lou”. As he spoke, 61,000+ fans wept with him, labeling it “The Day Yankee Stadium Wept”. Upon retirement, he humbly served as a parole officer in New York City. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he used his first name, “Henry,” when he made visits to help potential parolees. Since 1955, “The Lou Gehrig Award” has been given annually in honor of the MLB player who exhibits Gehrig’s character on and off the baseball field.

Humility is an often overlooked and under-sought quality. To be “famous”, most people today display qualities that are more readily noticeable, arrogant, and showy. Luke 14:11 says, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Instead of drawing attention to ourselves, those who seek to be humble set aside their accomplishments and desire to be seen and display qualities such as appreciation and service. Like Christ, they “make themselves of no reputation” (Philippians 2:7). Jesus, the ultimate example of humility, “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

What about you? What’s your reputation? Is it humble or arrogant? Are you selfish or selfless? Jesus embodied selfless humility that we should seek to imitate. It comes from spending time with the “gentle and lowly” Jesus (Matthew 11:29-30). Philippians says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

*My favorite “Lou Gehrig Award” winner? 1989 Ozzie Smith