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On July 4, 1939, the New York Yankees’ first baseman, Lou Gehrig, gave a speech to a completely packed Yankee Stadium. Two months earlier, “the Iron Horse” benched himself after 2,130 straight games. He hadn’t been performing. Two weeks later he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and learned he had three years to live. On that day in July almost 75 years ago, slated as “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day,” he delivered one of the most famous speeches in baseball history.
“Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth,” he told a roaring stadium full of supporters. “I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for.”
At age 37, two years after his speech, his body succumbed to the disease.
Fast forward to 2014 and the Phillies celebrated a 30-year partnership with The ALS Association, the team’s official charity, by raising a record-breaking $904,732 at Monday night’s Phillies Phestival. Since 1984, the team has raised more than $15 million for the fight against the always-deadly and incurable disease.
Featuring a photo booth with second baseman Chase Utley and manager Ryne Sandberg, 26 autograph stations, a silent auction and even a first-time chance to throw pitches in the bullpen, the night witnessed 7,000 fans helping the Phillies charitable efforts to reach a milestone.
Ellyn Phillips, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association’s president, was on hand to take it all in and thank every member of not only the Phillies, but the wives, staff, front office and coaches for coming out on their day off to support an important cause.
“Bill [Giles] said you can be the charity of the Wives, and if you have the Wives you have the team,” the Manayunk resident explained of the charity’s first talks with Phillies’ executive management. “And after five years we became a part of the family, and now we’re the official charity of the Phillies.”
The devastating neuromuscular condition has no known cause or cure.
“Some go really quickly and sometimes you slowly waste away,” Phillips explained.
She had no expertise on the subject until her husband was stricken with the disease.
“We don’t have treatment yet that’s really effective, but things are changing so we always remain optimistic,” she noted.
Ruben Amaro Jr., the Phillies’ general manager and a Philadelphia native, maintained that sense of optimism as well.
“It’s pretty cool that we get this kind of support from the fans, and that’s what it’s really about — the fans helping the Phillies support ALS,” he said while sitting in the Phillies dugout.
“We’re really trying to support knocking it out,” he added of the ways that the ALS Association supports those afflicted but also seeks to fund research for its cure and prevention. “We hope that some of these funds go directly towards research like stem cell research.”
He also sang the praises of his team.
“A lot of these guys get it; they understand the importance of what it means to give back to the community,” he noted. “The fact that we have so many players involved in the community says something about the guys that we have in the organization.”
Cody Asche, the Phils’ 23-year-old third basemen, was not surprised that fans turned out en masse for the opportunity to participate in a charitable celebration.
“It doesn’t shock me – the fans love their Phillies and we get so much love and support,” he said.
Moneys collected will go towards a plethora of services and research.
“We provide in-home care programs, we have support groups, we have van transportation, we have an assistive technology program,” Phillips noted. “Now we have someone that works with whatever muscle is left.”
She said professionals work with patients who can do as little as move their neck to turn on a television, lower blinds or alter the temperature of a house and expressed eternal gratefulness for the Phillies’ cooperation and support.
“It’s a true commitment and a true relationship and partnership,” Phillips said.
Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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