All it takes is for one legend to recognize the other. Well, this legend, the six-time World Series champion, Lou Gehrig, once talked about the greatest ballplayers of all time. 

Gehrig played 17 seasons for the New York Yankees before being forced to retire in 1939. This happened after he got diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is now known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. 

He was the legend who recognized the other three legends. He also talked about why they are the greatest ball players of all time.

Lou Gehrig was the ballplayer of all time 

Gehrig debuted as a first baseman for the New York Yankees on June 15, 1923, and played till April 30, 1939. He was the only player in history to collect 400 total bases in five seasons. Throughout his career, he got many awards, including getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. He also was the first person ever to have his jersey retired. 

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He was a ballplayer in every aspect of the game. In a radio interview, he got asked to tell the name of who he thinks is a ballplayer. Gehrig then said, “Well, there’s no question about the three greatest most outstanding ballplayers in the history of baseball have been Ruth, Cobb, and Wagner.”

Then he began to explain why he chose these three players. 

For Babe Ruth, he said, “Ruth was typical fans’ ballplayer.” 

Talking about Tyrus Raymond Cobb, he said, “Cobb was a typical individual ballplayer because I believe he had no enemies on the ball field and any man in the history of baseball because he played it so hard and he thought of nobody.”

“Wagner was a typical Ballplayer’s ballplayer or the manager’s ballplayer because he was always thinking of winning and doing what he could for the other fellow, and for his manager, and for his ball club, and for his fans,” he said about “Hans” Wagner.

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Gehrig knew what he was talking about while naming these players. The four of them were the best. And if Lou had not got the disease, he might have gone on to break more records.

Gehrig was ‘The Iron Horse’

Lou was known for many things in his time. For his durability and his power as a hitter, he got the nickname ‘Iron Horse’ by the press, fans, and historians.

He was an all-star seven consecutive times and once won a Triple Crown as well. He was forced to retire in 1939 after he got diagnosed with ALS and then later died in 1941 because of it. 

Watch This Story: Why is Lou Gehrig’s disease named after him and how did it affect his Yankees career?

To this day, he was the legend of the legends and always will be one till baseball remains.