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Secondary sourceDocumentary1942

The Pride of the Yankees

Sam Wood · 1942

A 1942 film about Lou Gehrig in which Babe Ruth appears as himself, showing his place among his Yankee teammates.

Ruth appears as himself, showing his celebrity status and his relationship with teammate Lou Gehrig years after his playing days.

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Newspaper advertisement for the Boyd Theatre showing the film The Pride of the Yankees starring Gary Cooper, with a portrait photo of a man and a smaller photo of a woman. Text lists doors opening Saturday at 11:45 AM, showtimes, and ticket prices.
Advertisement for The Pride of the Yankees, 1942.

About this source

What it is

This 1942 film, directed by Sam Wood and starring Gary Cooper, is a tribute to Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, who had died the year before its release. Babe Ruth appears playing himself, along with teammates Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey.

Why it matters

The film captures how deeply Ruth and Gehrig's partnership on the Yankees shaped baseball history and American popular culture. Ruth's appearance as himself shows his continued celebrity status years after his playing career, and the film reflects how Gehrig's story, and his connection to Ruth, resonated with the public during wartime.

Look closer

  • Why might filmmakers have asked real players like Ruth to appear as themselves rather than using actors?
  • What does the film's focus on Gehrig's personal life, rather than statistics, suggest about what audiences wanted?
  • What might the film leave out or simplify about the real relationship between Ruth and Gehrig?

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