Lou Gehrig, Marty Appel to be Inducted into Larchmont Luminaries

The Larchmont Historical Society will induct two former Larchmonters into Larchmont Luminaries: the late Hall of Fame first baseman, Lou Gehrig, and best-selling author and publicist, Marty Appel, the society announced.

Appel will be on hand at the ceremony, which is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on April 19 at the Larchmont Village Center, located behind the Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave. He will speak about his tenure with the New York Yankees as well as his friendship with Gehrig’s widow, Eleanor.

The program is free and open to the public.

According to the society, past Larchmont Luminaries honorees have been actor John Barrymore, Academy Award-winning film editor Andrew Mondshein, actor and film producer Mary Pickford, Academy Award-winning film producer Leslie Mondshein, New York Times theater critic Walter Kerr, playwright and author David Carlyon, author and playwright Jean Kerr, and Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning theatrical producer Barbara Whitman.

Gehrig (1903-1941), played baseball for the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1939. Known as the “Iron Horse,” Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games, a record that stood for 65 years. In 1939, he was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, now commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He lived with his wife, Eleanor, in the Stonecrest Apartments at 21 Chatsworth Avenue in Larchmont from 1934 to 1940.

Appel, who lived in Larchmont for 20 years, is considered the leading authority on the New York Yankees. His twenty books include “Pinstripe Empire: The New York Yankees From Before the Babe to After the Boss,” and the children’s version, “Pinstripe Pride.” As the Yankees public relations director, he knew and worked with Lou Gehrig’s widow and would always call her the morning after “Pride of the Yankees” was on TV to tease her about how good she looked in it. (Actress Teresa Wright played Eleanor in the film.)

For more information, contact LHS Programs Chair Dee van Eyck at 914-834-0449 or deevaneyck@aol.com.

About Larchmont Historical Society: The Larchmont Historical Society was founded in 1980 and chartered in 1981 as a not-for-profit educational corporation by he New York State Board of Regents to discover, preserve and disseminate information concerning the natural, social and civic history of Larchmont, and to promote the preservation of local historical sites and structures. The Society maintains an archive in the Mamaroneck Town Center, publishes a newsletter, offers programs, conducts tours for school children and adults, and offers outreach lectures to other community groups. www.larchmonthistory.org

Photo credit: Flickr user Espino Family via Creative Commons

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