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What is the story of The Pride of the Yankees?

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Sam Wood (Foreground, from left to right) Groucho Marx, Margaret Dumont, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx in *A Night at the Opera* (1935), directed by Sam Wood.

Directed by Sam Wood, the 1942 biographical film The Pride of the Yankees tells the life story of New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig.

The story follows Gehrig, a Columbia University student recruited by sportswriter Sam Blake. Initially hesitant to leave school, Gehrig signs with the Yankees to fund his mother's medical care. He rises to stardom as the "Iron Horse," famous for his record-breaking streak of 2,130 consecutive games.

In 1938, Gehrig’s performance declines due to a mysterious loss of coordination. He is eventually diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal neurological condition. The film culminates in his emotional July 4, 1939, farewell speech at Yankee Stadium, where he famously declares himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth." Blending fact and fiction, the film features performances by Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright, with appearances by real-life teammates like Babe Ruth.123