Today's Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

The Greatest Baseball Story Ever

By Mack R.

In 1937, Lou Gehrig, the outstanding first baseman of the

New York Yankees, was asked to go to the Children's

Hospital in Chicago, while there to play the White Sox, and

visit a boy with polio. Tim, ten years old, had refused to

try therapy to get well. Lou was his hero, and Tim's

parents hoped that Lou would visit Tim and urge him to try

the therapy.

Tim was amazed to meet his hero. Lou told Tim, " I want you

to get well. Go to therapy and learn to walk again. "

Tim said, " Lou, if you will knock a home run for me today,

I will learn to walk again. " Lou promised.

All the way to the ballpark, Lou felt a deep sense of

obligation and even apprehension that he would not be able

to deliver his promise that day. Lou didn't knock one home

run that day. He knocked two.

Two years later, when Lou Gehrig was dying with the dreaded

muscular disease that to this day bears his name, on July

4, 1939, they celebrated Lou Gehrig Day at Yankee Stadium.

Eighty thousand fans, the governor, the mayor and many

other celebrities paid their respects. Lou was one of

America's great heroes.

Just before the mike was turned over to Lou to respond,

Tim, by this time twelve years old, walked out of the

dugout, dropped his crutches, and with leg braces walked to

home plate to hug Lou around the waist.

That's what Lou Gehrig meant when he exclaimed those

immortal words: " Today I consider myself the luckiest man

on the face of the earth. "