Lou Gehrig

Henry Louis 'Lou' Gehrig (June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941) was an American professional baseball player for the New York Yankees and one of the sport's greatest hitters. Known as 'The Iron Horse,' Gehrig earned his nickname by playing in 2,130 consecutive games from 1923 to 1939, a record that stood for decades and exemplified his remarkable durability and dedication. Born in New York City, Gehrig became a Yankees icon alongside Babe Ruth, forming one of baseball's most formidable partnerships. He was a fourteen-time All-Star, a Triple Crown winner, and won the American League MVP award twice. Gehrig's career statistics—including 493 home runs and a career .340 batting average—place him among baseball's elite. His legacy became even more poignant after his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. His farewell speech at Yankee Stadium in 1939, in which he called himself 'the luckiest man on the face of this earth,' remains one of sports' most iconic moments. Gehrig died in 1941 at age 37, but his memory endures as a symbol of courage, perseverance, and athletic excellence.