 Gary the iron horse one of the greatest players in Yankees history. He was a six-time world champion and a seven-time all-star With a pair of MVP awards, and he also won the 1934 triple crown And of course he had one of the most famous freaks in all of sports when he played in 2130 consecutive games from 1925 through 1939 and that streak was stopped by the progression of aviotrophic lateral sclerosis the disease that now bears his name After his diagnosis the Yankees held a day in his honor and with your step to the microphone He delivered one of the most stirring speeches in American history one revered by current day Yankees and fans of all ages. I Considered myself I've been in ballparks for 17 years I've never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans Wouldn't you consider it? Would such a Look at these grandmen which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day Sure. I'm lucky Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Rupert also the builder of baseball's greatest empire Ed Barrow To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow Miller Huggins Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader that smart student of psychology The best manager in baseball today Joe McCarthy sure. I'm lucky When the New York Giants a team you would give your right arm to beat and vice versa Send you a gift. That's something When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys and white coats remember you with trophies, that's something And you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you and swabbles with her own daughter. That's something When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body It's a blessing When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed That's the finest I know So I close it saying that I might have Been given a bad grade but I've got an awful lot to live for