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Gehrig, Appel Inducted As Larchmont Luminaries

LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- New York Yankees Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig and best-selling author and publicist Marty Appel were inducted into Larchmont Luminaries by the Larchmont Historical Society (LHS) on Sunday.

From left, Dee van Eyck, LHS programs chair; Marty Appel; Nancy White, LHS president; statr Sen. George Latime; Stephen Roldandi, LHS treasurer; and Laura Maloney, LHS vice president, membership chair.

From left, Dee van Eyck, LHS programs chair; Marty Appel; Nancy White, LHS president; statr Sen. George Latime; Stephen Roldandi, LHS treasurer; and Laura Maloney, LHS vice president, membership chair.

Photo Credit: Stephen van Eyck

The annual award is given to prominent Larchmonters, one living and one posthumous, and are selected based on their outstanding contributions to the arts and athletics.

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 N. Chatsworth Ave. 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."  

Appel spoke about the life and career of Gehrig as well as his friendship with Gehrig's widow, Eleanor.  As the Yankees public relations director, he knew and worked Eleanor Gehrig and would always call her the morning after "Pride of the Yankees" was on television to tease her about how good she looked in it. (She was portrayed in the film by actress Teresa Wright.)

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 and his wife, author and playwright Jean Kerr; playwright and author David Carlyon; and Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning theatrical producer Barbara Whitman. 

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