MLB Announces Lou Gehrig Day
June 2 in the baseball world will forever hold a new name — “Lou Gehrig Day.” This commemorative day will be held throughout Major League Baseball and recognized by all organizations.
The day is more than just to honor the Hall of Famer. It will also serve as a “cause for remembrance, awareness, and celebration” in the fight towards ending amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
On June 2, a patch will be worn on all jerseys in honor of Gehrig. Additionally, a “4-ALS” logo (No. 4 in honor of Gehrig’s number) will be displayed in all ballparks.
Awareness for ALS is not the only thing this day will bring; MLB will be raising money for the horrific disease. They will also recognize groups like the LG4Day committee, which is made up of people with ALS, caregivers of ALS, and families of those who have ALS.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had the following to say about the day:
“Major League Baseball is thrilled to celebrate the legacy of Lou Gehrig, whose humility and courage continue to inspire our society. While ALS has been closely identified with our game since Lou’s legendary career, the pressing need to find cures remains. We look forward to honoring all the individuals and families, in baseball and beyond, who have been affected by ALS and hope Lou Gehrig Day advances efforts to end this disease.”
Gehrig will now join Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson as being the only players who have a day celebrated in their honor throughout MLB.
June 2 was purposefully chosen as the day, as it is the day in 1925 that Gehrig became the Yankees’ regular first baseman. It is unfortunately also the day in 1941 that he lost his battle with ALS after fighting the disease for about two years.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It affects nerve cells both in the spinal cord and in the brain. The disease can affect anyone, and unfortunately, there is no cure yet. It is a fatal disease, with the average life expectancy after diagnosis being 2 to 5 years.
As the older sister of someone who lost his battle of a different neurodegenerative disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, I can speak to how heartwarming (and long-overdue) it is to see MLB bringing awareness and funds to this.
Thank you, MLB and LG4Day for helping to make Lou Gehrig Day happen.
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