The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-03
YANKEE IRON
 MANI ACTS FOR
 GOOD OF TEAM
Detroit Crowd Gives New Yorker Great Hand; Me-
 Carthy Says Job Ready
By JOHN B. MILLS

By JOHN B. MILLS ~ United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Detroit, May 3-(UP)-Three nt- tie words-"I'm ready, Joe"-will send Lou Gehrig back into the line up of the New York Yankees any time the iron man decides in his own heart that he is ready to speak them.
 His job at first base is waiting for him, but many basehit probably will streak through the sunshine be- fore Gehrig tells Manager Joe Mo- Carthy that he is ready. For Gehrig is not ready now and nobody knows 1t better than himself.
 He knew it three days ago, but it was not until yesterday in hotel high above the center of Detroit that Gehrig announced he mad de- cided to end his streak of 2,130 con- secutive games-a streak that is a record today and one likely to stand for century.
 Gehrig and Mccarthy were alone in the hotel room.
 'The team isn't going so good and I'm not going SO good" Gehrig said T think it would be better for me to get out of there for 8 while."
 "Is that the way you really feel about it, Lou?" Mccarthy asked.
 "Yes, that's what I've decided"
 "Okay,' Mccarthy said. But the final act of this drama | that began on June day in 1925 was played an hour or SO later on the grass at Briggs stadium. Mo- Carthy made 1t clear before the game with the Detroit Tigers start ed that Gehrig had benched him. self and added: Lou will be back in the lineup when he himself decides he's ready to play again. His place is there for him when he wants it. '
 But those words were spoken to small knot of people in front of the Yankees bench and none of the 1,379 persons in the stands realized what they were about to see. Field ing practice was over and the dia- mond was clear when out of the Yankee dugout came familiar thick-legged figure. It was Captain Lou Gehrig of the Yankees carrying the New York lineup to the umpire. Lou knew that "Gehrig, 1b" was not write non that lineup for the first time in almost IA years, but nothing on his face gave any indication that 1t mattered. It's only in the story books that ball players cry and swear to the manager that they're going to knock one out of the lot for him.
 The umpire and Manager Del Baker. carrying the Detroit lineup, were slow to get to the plate and for a minute or more Gehrig stood there alone. He looked toward first base and then toward cneter field. Just then the public address system blared out the news that Gehrig would not play.
 Lou has heard the roar of the crowd in seven world series, when parks were packed to the rafters, but it is doubtful If he ever heard a cheer like the one that rang through the chil lair at Briggs sta dium yesterday afternoon. Every one of the 11,379 persons in the park semed to be splitting his throat in tribute to the man who had ham, mered their home team into sub- mission on so many afternoons dur ing the last IA years. Gehrig handed his lineup to the umpire and walked back into the shadows of the dugout. And when the Yankees raced out on the field in the second half of the first inning Babe Dahl- gren, utility infielder, was on first base.
 Fate piled it on Gehrig as he sat in the dugout. With him in the line up the Yankees had been in slump. With him out of the lineup they came to life and hammered Detroit pitchers for p runs. Dahlgren, sub ping for Gehrig, got home run and a double; Charlie Keller, who batted in Gehrig's fifth position, got a triple and homer which drove in six runs.
 Gehrig took a long time to dress after the game. Over in one corner of the locker room a trainer was rubbing liniment into Red Rulings s right arm. Finally Gehrig said:
 "It seemed funny not to be out there on the field. I don't know when I'll go back in. I like warm weather and it's pretty cold now"
 Then he finished dressing and walked fast, almost ran, to taxicab outside the park.