Oris Honors Lou Gehrig With A Limited-Edition Big Crown Pointer Date
Even if you’re Dutch and not a baseball fan, the name Lou Gehrig rings a bell. In my case, I knew he was a player for the New York Yankees, but that was it. If you’re American, you probably know him as “The Iron Horse.” Few athletes have left a mark on American sport quite like Lou Gehrig. While his name is forever linked to baseball greatness, it’s his extraordinary resilience, humility, and courage that continue to resonate nearly a century later. On July 4th, 1939, during the now-famous Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium, he addressed a crowd of more than 60,000 fans. Just weeks earlier, Gehrig had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a deadly progressive neurodegenerative disease. Nevertheless, he considered himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Oris honors Lou Gehrig with a limited-edition Big Crown Pointer Date.
Lou Gehrig got his nickname “The Iron Horse” for his durability, immense strength, and relentless work ethic. From 1925 to 1939, the New York Yankees first baseman appeared in 2,130 consecutive games, never missing time through injury, illness, or fatigue. The streak stood as Major League Baseball’s endurance benchmark for 56 years and remains one of sport’s most remarkable records. But Gehrig is bigger than sport because of the way he dealt with an unbeatable disease. After learning in 1939 that the devastating illness ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease people in the US now know as “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” would end both his career and, ultimately, his life, Gehrig delivered one of the most memorable speeches in sporting history. His declaration that he considered himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” revealed a level of grace and humility that transcended baseball.
Oris honors Lou Gehrig with a limited-edition Big Crown Pointer Date
Although Gehrig fought an unwinnable battle, his public way of dealing with the deadly disease brought unprecedented awareness to the condition and transformed him into a symbol of courage in the face of adversity. As a human being and as an athlete, Gehrig was extraordinary. During his Hall of Fame career, he amassed 493 home runs, 1,995 RBIs, a .340 batting average, and six World Series titles with the Yankees. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, Gehrig was a player whose achievements on the field were matched only by the dignity with which he faced life’s greatest challenge. He died on June 2nd, 1941, aged just 37.
Lou Gehrig delivering his legendary “Farewell to Baseball” speech on July 4th, 1939, at Yankee Stadium
Since 2021, June 2nd has been Lou Gehrig Day. And on this day five years later, Oris celebrates the life and legacy of this timeless baseball icon. The Swiss brand from Hölstein raises funds for The Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation and raises awareness of ALS with a 2,130-piece limited-edition Big Crown Pointer Date. The basis is a 40mm steel Pointer Date, and a closer look reveals a series of thoughtful details that connect the watch to Gehrig.
Lou Gehrig is in the details
The most subtle Gehrig tribute appears on the pointer-date scale, where the number 4 is rendered in blue. It’s a small but important detail commemorating Gehrig’s iconic jersey number. The New York Yankees retired No. 4 in 1940, making it the first retired number in Major League Baseball history and establishing a tradition that continues today.
The Yankees’ famous blue and white provide the visual foundation for the watch. A blue minute track and matching outlines around the applied hour markers create a clear contrast against the warm white Super-LumiNova details. Meanwhile, the vertically brushed metallic dial is a nod to Gehrig’s nickname, “The Iron Horse.”
Oris created a tribute watch that looks like a standard Pointer Date. I mean that as a compliment. Sometimes commemorative watches try too hard to be special. Oris managed to create a tribute watch that integrates historical references naturally into the design rather than simply adding commemorative engravings. Oris, for instance, created a dial showing a combination of numerals and markers reminiscent of watches from Gehrig’s era, the 1920s and 1930s. The railroad-style minute track recalls vintage Oris designs from the same period, while the white-on-black date numerals further reinforce the watch’s period-correct aesthetic. This is a well-executed homage watch you can also enjoy even if you’re not into baseball at all.
On-theme extras
The story continues in the extras, including the two straps. The brown leather strap features double stitching inspired by the construction of a traditional baseball glove, while the additional NATO strap shows Yankees colors. On the case back, you will find an engraving of Gehrig delivering his legendary farewell speech. Here, you will also see the individual LE number. The watch is a limited edition of 2,130 pieces, a direct reference to Gehrig’s remarkable streak of consecutive games.
The basics of the Big Crown Pointer Date Lou Gehrig Limited Edition
This Lou Gehrig edition of the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date has a 40mm steel case with a 48.2mm lug-to-lug and a 12.2mm thickness, including the double-domed sapphire crystal. The case flanks are polished, while the top is vertically brushed. The elegant coin-edge bezel tells you the watch houses the brand’s caliber 754. This is a Sellita SW200-1 modified with a pointer date complication and a red Oris rotor hiding behind the decorated closed case back. This automatic movement runs at 28,800 vph, has a power reserve of 41 hours, and features 26 jewels. You can operate the movement with a large screw-down crown, which also helps keep the case water resistant to 50 meters. The price of the watch is €2,400 / CHF 2,400.
I think Oris hit it out of the park with this watch, but what do you think about the Big Crown Pointer Date Lou Gehrig Limited Edition? Please let me know in the comments.
