Lou Gehrig

The Lost Memoir

By: Alan D. Gaff

Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto, Kyle Tait

The lost memoir from Lou Gehrig—“a compelling rumination by a baseball icon and a tragic hero” (Sports Illustrated) and “a fitting tribute to an inspiring baseball legend” (Publishers Weekly).

At the tender age of twenty-four, Lou Gehrig decided to tell the remarkable story of his life and career. He was one of the most famous athletes in the country, in the midst of a record-breaking season with the legendary 1927 World Series–winning Yankees. In an effort to grow Lou’s star, pioneering sports agent Christy Walsh arranged for Lou’s tale of baseball greatness to syndicate in newspapers across the country. Those columns were largely forgotten and lost to history—until now.

Lou comes alive in this “must-read” (Tyler Kepner, The New York Times) memoir. It is an inspiring, heartfelt rags-to-riches tale about a poor kid from New York who became one of the most revered baseball players of all time.

Fourteen years after his account, Lou would tragically die from ALS, a neuromuscular disorder now known as Lou Gherig’s Disease. His poignant autobiography is followed by an insightful biographical essay by historian Alan D. Gaff. Here is Lou—Hall of Famer, All Star, MVP, an “athlete who epitomized the American dream” (Christian Science Monitor)—back at bat.

Critic reviews

"True baseball fans know Lou Gehrig's time on the diamond served as a critical component of the Yankees' classic teams. He should not be regarded as having stood in Babe Ruth's shadow. Non-fans know Gehrig as the namesake of the disease that cut short his life. Historian Alan D. Gaff has brought to life lost newspaper columns by the Iron Horse, and narrators Angelo Di Loreto and Kyle Tait help his story come alive. Tait narrates Gaff's introduction and follow-up essay, while Di Loreto voices Gehrig. The two work well. Tait's voice is higher, with good enunciation. Di Loreto's is lower, adding a serious quality to the audiobook. Di Loreto's slight East Coast accent is appropriate for New York City native Gehrig. The columns form an autobiographical account, and the narrators serve as teammates to bring the story home."

Wonderful to get to know Lou Gehrig better, it cleans up a lot of History

Lou’s own words about Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb reminds us that the Press has always tried to create divisions, where non were. Excellent presentation

Kyle Tait and Angelo Di Loreto, Perfect!

The first half is in Gehrig's own words/voice, pulled from ghostwriter articles published at the time and some they only just discovered. The second half is more straight biography with a hefty emphasis on the '27 Murderer's Row club and how he fit in, contrasted with them.

You'd think that format would prove redundant but it never felt that way. Alan Gaff did a great job brining us a concise and sharp biographical account. He brings personalities to life, particularly Babe Ruth, spending enough time explaining Ruth to emphasize just how different Gehrig was.

The first half is narrated by Angelo Diloreto and Kyle Tait helms the second-half. People who know, realize that Kyle Tait is one of the best baseball audiobook narrators in the business.

with baseball dead and buried this was great

with baseball dead and buried reading about the golden era of baseball is way better than watching today's players taking a knee or taking performance enhancing drugs or corked bats. Lou and Babe were the reasons I watched every single game when I was young. why can't we have one player like this today? someone who doesn't care about money, fame, or that life someone who loves the game.

What a story

Thank you for this book 🙏🏼 what a life cut short what a career and what a love he had for his mother 😔

Mistitled

About 40% of the book is the so-called "Lost Memoir" and about 45% of the book is an objective biography read by a voice that sounds like a computer voice and 5% of the book (45 minutes) of names, short annotations and a long box score of Gehrig's career. Gehrig apparently liked most everyone and looked for positive in most everyone. Probably the most annoying is the last 45 minutes of names, their nicknames and a sentence or so about them personally. The so-called "lost memoir" is an interview he did in 1927. He talks about "The Babe" much of the time. Its not what you expect from the title. Gehrig worked with probation kids in and out of jail in his remaining year or so before his death. I wish there was more research about this experience.