On April 21, 2012, 57 years of Phi Delta Theta’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award were celebrated at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York during the Phi Delt Weekend. Nearly 100 Phis, family members, and friends honored Brother Lou Gehrig along with 12 special donors whose contribution made the entire weekend possible.  The weekend’s events included an Iron Phi 5k, Behind the Scenes Tours of the Hall of Fame and a special evening and program at the Hall of Fame.

Although the Gehrig Award had hung on the walls of the Baseball Hall of Fame for years, its plaque and all of its winners had never been properly dedicated, but thanks to Brothers Chris W. Brussalis, Allegheny ’87, Roy H. Cunningham, West Virginia ’93, George E. Grady, Arizona ’53, W. L. Gray, Jr., Texas Christian ’70, Kenneth Michael Jastrow II, Texas-Austin ’69, Richard W. Kelley, Nebraska-Lincoln ’60, Stephen “Tio” Kleberg, Texas Tech ’69, Jeffrey B. Love, Vanderbilt ’71, Frederic B. Lowrie, Jr., Butler ’71, Charles W. Poore, Jr., South Dakota ’61, James M. Trapp, Knox ’56, and Gary R. Wade, Tennessee-Knoxville ’70 this all changed. 

A $50,000 contribution collectively made by these individuals allowed for a new display to be created that properly shows the award and provides additional information about it, Lou Gehrig, and Phi Delta Theta.  Additionally, this generous donation also allowed the Baseball Hall of Fame to conserve items such as Gehrig’s gloves, travel bags, a trophy given to him by the Yankees upon retirement, a bracelet given by Gehrig to his wife Eleanor that includes pieces of his own awards, and much more.  While the display will permanently hang on the museum’s walls, each item conserved will be a part of various exhibits with signage thanking Phi Delt for its support.

The program to mark this incredible gesture and celebration included an address from President of the General Council M. Scott Mietchen, a check presentation from Chairman of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation Trustees W.L. Gray to Ken Meifert of the Baseball Hall of Fame, a plaque presentation honoring all donors where Gary Wade provided very moving remarks on behalf of the group, and a challenge from Director of Communications and Iron Phi Steve Good for those in attendance to honor Gehrig by becoming an Iron Phi.  The program concluded as all in attendance watched a video of Brother Gehrig giving his “Luckiest Man” speech before watching the ribbon being cut at the new display.  The rest of the evening was filled with a BBQ and tours of the Hall of Fame for all in attendance.  

All attendees of the event were given a signed edition of Iron Horse:  Lou Gehrig in his Time by Ray Robinson a member of the Gehrig Award Selection Committee and had the option to purchase a special commerative t-shirt.  These items will soon be made available at the Phi Delt Store for all to purchase.

One special announcement made during the evening was that Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals will receive the next Lou Gehrig Memorial Award at the 79th Biennial Convention.  This will be the first time during the history of the award and the General Convention that this will occur.  The award will be presented at the Phi Delt Night at the Ballpark on the evening of Friday, July 6th when hundreds of Convention attendees are bused to the Nationals Ballpark to see the award presentation and the Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies.