Lux Radio Theater – Pride Of The Yankees (Gary Cooper, Virginia Bruce). 431004

Baseball players get ready to take the fields, but one locker has remained empty since the day that Lou Gehrig retired in 1939. Rolling back the clock to his school days, Lou saves his class pin for his best girl, his mom.

Originally a halfback on the football team, and with plans to become an engineer, it didn’t take long for baseball coaches to notice him. His career took a back seat while his mom took ill, and was hospitalized. It would break mom’s heart to know her son left off going to college, so Lou conspires with his dad to hide his career in baseball from her. Still she went faithfully to the games. Who cares about those other players, all she had eyes for was to see her son. Meanwhile, Lou stumbles into love on the playing field.

A milestone arrives when Lou approaches his first world series, and love blooms. Lou also proves to be a hero by visiting sick kids in the hospital. After a whirlwind romance, what will Lou’s mom think of when she meets the younger, and soon to be, Mrs Gehrig? When conflicts arise, Lou is big enough to stand up for his new bride. Life couldn’t be better for the rising star of baseball.

Time marches on, trophies come, and another important day arrives. Even mom is proud of the 2000 game run, and that her son didn’t become an engineer. After 14 years, and 2130 games without missing, Lou finally had the injury that began the downward spiral of his career. Though Lou tries to hide the doctors prognosis, Ellie can tell its something serious. They try to be upbeat, and enjoy time together, but the stress can be too much to bear. The famous farewell speech is arranged, and presented.