Lou Gehrig, born Henry Louis Gehrig on June 19, 1903, was an American professional baseball player who is best known for his legendary career as a first baseman for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Yankees from 1923 to 1939.
Gehrig was known for his exceptional hitting and durability, earning the nickname "The Iron Horse" for his consecutive game streak of 2,130 games, which stood as a record for over half a century until it was broken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995. Gehrig was a dominant force on the field, with a powerful left-handed swing that led to many home runs and runs batted in (RBIs).
One of Gehrig's most remarkable achievements was his consistent offensive production. He had 13 consecutive seasons with over 100 RBIs, and he finished his career with a .340 batting average, 493 home runs, and 1,995 RBIs. Gehrig played a significant role in the success of the Yankees during the 1920s and 1930s, helping the team win six World Series championships.
Unfortunately, Gehrig's career was cut short by a devastating illness now known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease. In 1939, he retired from baseball after being diagnosed with ALS. Gehrig's farewell speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, is considered one of the most iconic moments in sports history, where he famously stated, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."
Lou Gehrig passed away from ALS on June 2, 1941, at the age of 37. He was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. Gehrig's legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, his incredible durability, and his courage in the face of adversity have made him an enduring figure in sports history.
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