In 1938, Lou Gehrig began his sixÂteenth seaÂson as the New York YanÂkees’ first baseÂman. He conÂtinÂued buildÂing toward his legÂendary record of playÂing 2,130 conÂsecÂuÂtive games. His batÂting averÂage held at a respectable .295, though down from the scorchÂing .351 of the year before. And, durÂing the preÂseaÂson, Gehrig crossed over to HolÂlyÂwood and starred in Rawhide, a WestÂern film shot durÂing an era when WestÂerns were a staÂple of AmerÂiÂcan filmÂgoÂers. (John Wayne starred in more than 40 WestÂerns durÂing the 1930s, and you can watch many of them online here.)
The plot of Rawhide is implauÂsiÂble, to say the least. The film starts with Gehrig playÂing himÂself, telling reporters at Grand CenÂtral staÂtion:
I am through with baseÂball… I got what I want. My sisÂter and I bought a swell ranch in a peaceÂful valÂley. I am going to walÂlow in peace and quiÂet for the rest of my life. I am going to hang up my spikes for a swell old pair of carÂpet slipÂpers.
Of course, things don’t turn out to be very peaceÂful or quiÂet in the town of Rawhide. And the 58 minute draÂma unfolds from there. This being a no-spoilÂer zone, we won’t tell you the rest.
The next year, the unthinkÂable hapÂpened. The Iron Horse was afflictÂed by ALS. His batÂting averÂage plumÂmetÂed to .145, and soon enough, Gehrig delivÂered his “luckÂiÂest man on the face of the earth” speech and left baseÂball. Years latÂer, neuÂrolÂoÂgists looked back at Rawhide to see if Gehrig disÂplayed any visÂiÂble signs of the motor neuÂron disÂease in earÂly 1938. But none could be detectÂed.
Rawhide appears in the “WestÂerns” secÂtion of our growÂing colÂlecÂtion of Free Movies Online, along with The Pride of the YanÂkees, a Lou Gehrig biopic filmed in 1942. It starred Gary CoopÂer was nomÂiÂnatÂed for a numÂber of AcadÂeÂmy awards.