Lou Gehrig is regarded as one of the all-time greats of baseball – according to ESPN’s 100 greatest players of all time, he comes in at a lofty number six. During his career in the early 20th century, he played an astonishing 2,130 consecutive games for the New York Yankees across 15 seasons, earning him the nickname The Iron Horse for his reliability. However, in 1939 he announced to a packed Yankee Stadium that he had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neuron Disease, and in 1941 at the age of just 37, he died. To raise awareness of his story, Oris have partnered with The Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation to create the Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition Big Crown Pointer Date.
Off the bat (an apt turn of phrase in this case), this is a very handsome interpretation of the Big Crown Pointer Date. It’s quite restrained in its colour palette with a focus on black, white and blue to represent the colours of the New York Yankees against a backdrop of vertically brushed silver that echoes Gehrig’s Iron Horse nickname. The blue accents are found on the minute scale, hour markers, pointer date hand and the number 4 on the date scale. 4 was Gehrig’s signature shirt number and following his death it was retired by the Yankees in his honour.
Another set of details that can be seen on the dial is that it features heritage styles from the early 20th century, when Gehrig was playing. Primarily that includes the white on black date scale and also the use of alternating Arabic numerals and wedge-shaped indices for the hour scale. It adds a subtle hint of retro styling that blends well with the colour scheme of the watch.
Turning over the 40mm steel case reveals a solid caseback with a commemorative engraving depicting Lou Gehrig during his famous speech in 1939. In many regards he became the first advocate for what was and still is a disease that not many people understand. Which is why The Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation continues to fund research into the disease along with other public health related concerns that were important to the Gehrigs.
Inside the Lou Gehrig Limited Edition is the Oris calibre 754 with 41-hour power reserve. It’s not one of Oris’ in-house movements meaning it’s likely based on the Sellita SW200-1 though Oris has never confirmed this. Adapted of course with a pointer date function.
Completing the watch are the two straps it is presented with. The first is a brown leather strap with double stitching in the style of a baseball glove and second is a NATO in the colours of the Yankees. Both are fun options, but I find myself preferring the light brown of the leather, which gives the watch a bit more of a bright, almost playful energy compared to the dark navy of the NATO that’s a touch more serious.
For pricing and availability, the Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition is £2,250 in a limited edition of 2,130 pieces in tribute to the number of consecutive games he played. To wrap up, I find myself in wholehearted agreement with John Howell, the Lou and Eleanor Gehrig foundation’s president: “In a world of flashy excess, it is a remarkably well-done and tasteful tribute to Lou.”
Price and Specs:
More details at Oris.
