Service to Humanity
The north wall of Heritage Hall is a specially designed area that features a wide range of artifacts that tell the story of the "miracle of relationships" at Mayo Clinic. This phrase comes from the writings of Sister Ellen Whelan, Ph.D., a member of the Rochester Franciscans, whose books cover the history of Mayo Clinic and Saint Marys Hospital (today, the Saint Marys Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester).
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Signatures
The baseball includes the signature of “Pride of the Yankees” Lou Gehrig along with the autograph of player / manager / coach Leo “the Lip” Durocher.
1980 Winter Olympics
Gold medal from the 1980 Winter Olympics. Gift of Robert W. Fleming, emeritus chief administrative officer of Mayo Clinic, who served as chair of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Committee from 1969 to 1981 and 1990 to 1994. His leadership included the iconic game known as the “Miracle on Ice,” when the U.S. team beat the heavily favored squad from the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, New York, during the Cold War.
Lou Gehrig
In 1939, baseball great Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”) at Mayo Clinic. While at Mayo, he befriended local youths and joined their athletic practice sessions. He signed this baseball for a young friend, Bob Tierney. Seventy-five years later, Bob Tierney sold the ball to Rochester business leader Andrew C. Chafoulias, who donated it to Mayo Clinic.
