Lou Gehrig & Cal Ripken, Jr.

​Lou Gehrig & Cal Ripken, Jr's Farewells
to Baseball

Multiple Choice

 Which issue do both speeches address directly?

• The pressure of setting records

• Gratitude for fans and teammates

• The importance of baseball statistics

• The financial rewards of baseball

Multiple Choice

In Passage 1, why does Gehrig call himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth”?

• To minimize the seriousness of his illness

• To emphasize his gratitude for relationships and experiences

• To suggest that fame outweighs personal struggles

• To distract the audience from his retirement

Multiple Choice

Both Gehrig and Ripken describe the closing of their playing careers. How does the way each man frames this moment reveal a difference in perspective?

• Gehrig acknowledges the end of his career but focuses on gratitude despite adversity, while Ripken emphasizes closing one dream and opening new ones.

• Gehrig treats retirement as a relief from hardship, while Ripken presents it as an unwelcome ending.

• Gehrig denies that his career is truly ending, while Ripken accepts his departure from the game with resignation.

• Gehrig highlights his accomplishments to soften the loss, while Ripken minimizes his legacy to avoid attention.

Multiple Choice

Which detail from Passage 1 best supports the idea that Gehrig values family support above all else?

• “When the New York Giants … sends you a gift — that’s something.

• “When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education … it’s a blessing.”

• “I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness.”

• “Wouldn’t you consider it a privilege to associate yourself with such fine looking men …”

Multiple Choice

How do the two speeches differ in how they frame the speaker’s future?

• Gehrig highlights courage in the face of illness, while Ripken imagines new baseball-related dreams.

• Gehrig looks forward to coaching, while Ripken looks forward to family life.

• Gehrig plans to continue playing, while Ripken resigns completely.

• Gehrig denies uncertainty, while Ripken emphasizes hopelessness.

Multiple Choice

How does Ripken’s use of the phrase “to be remembered at all is pretty special” affect the tone of his speech?

• It makes his speech defensive and guarded.

• It creates a humble and reflective tone.

• It suggests bitterness toward his critics.

• It emphasizes the importance of breaking records.

Multiple Choice

Which quotation from Ripken’s speech most strongly reinforces the idea that his career was about more than personal achievement?

• “I might have some white hair … but I’m really not that old.”

• “My dreams for the future include pursuing my passion for baseball.”

• “I might also add that if, if I am remembered, I hope … I was able to make a difference.”

• “Imagine playing for my hometown team for my whole career.”

Multiple Choice

Which statement best explains a thematic similarity between Gehrig’s and Ripken’s farewells?

• Both argue that fame is temporary, but personal impact lasts beyond the game.

• Both show that retirement from baseball is an inevitable disappointment.

• Both suggest that winning championships is the truest measure of success.

• Both warn that their careers will soon be forgotten by fans and teammates

Multiple Choice

In Passage 1, what effect does Gehrig’s repetition of “Sure I’m lucky” create?

• It reinforces his determination to continue playing.

• It highlights his acceptance of honors and family blessings

• It shifts focus away from baseball entirely.

• It creates a humorous and mocking tone.

Multiple Choice

Which difference in purpose is most clear between the two speeches?

• Gehrig’s purpose is to inspire courage in the face of hardship, while Ripken’s purpose is to celebrate the fulfillment of a dream.

• Gehrig’s purpose is to warn against illness, while Ripken’s purpose is to encourage others to quit at the right time.

• Gehrig’s purpose is to describe his records, while Ripken’s purpose is to deny his own accomplishments.

• Gehrig’s purpose is to thank his managers, while Ripken’s purpose is to thank his fans.