Lou Gehrig, All-City high school Athlete
Lou Gehrig, 1920. New York High School of Commerce Yearbook, 1920, p. 12. Lelands.com.
One hundred years ago today … Lou Gehrig was named to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle’s all-city high school team for football, which the paper called “one of great strength.”
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 5 December 1920, p. 64. Chronicling America.
Gerhrig, “the husky Commerce lad,” had been lauded throughout the autumn for his football play, such as in this November 3 report of Commerce’s win over Morris High in the Bronx (about which see our June 5 post).
New York Tribune 3 November 1920, p. 16. Chronicling America.
It was as a baseball player that Gehrig would become a New York legend a few years later, and it was as a baseball player that he achieved his greatest acclaim in 1920, as Commerce won a Chicago-New York tournament championship, back in June. The Daily News, which sponsored the tournament, printed photos of the team’s return to NYC from Chicago.
Daily News, 29 June 1920, p. 20. Chronicling America.
Of note is that supporters were naming Gehrig after Babe Ruth (whose 1920 we feature in several posts).
Daily News, 29 June 1920, p. 20. Chronicling America.
It may be that the nicknaming was promoted by the News, which had taken to linking Gehrig with Ruth, calling him variations of “Babe Gerhig” (“5,000 Welcome Home Victorious Commerce Team,” Daily News, 29 June 1920, p. 16). Indeed it may be that the Commerce reception was staged, and not really five thousand strong.
1920 Commerce High School baseball team. Gehrig is third from right, center row. Heritage Auctions.
Gehrig also played soccer for Commerce, whose yearbook featured this photo of four members of the team. Gehrig is bottom right.
Lou Gehrig, 1920. New York High School of Commerce Yearbook, 1920, p. 70. Lelands.com.
As for the High School of Commerce, it had been established in 1902 to provide high school boys with secondary education combined with business training. It was located at 155 W 65 Street, in a building designed by C.B.J. Snyder. (See our September 11 post.)
Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. "Manhattan: 65th Street–Broadway" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1920.
– Jonathan Goldman, December 5, 1920
TAGS: sports, athletics, high school, baseball, football