Vital Statistics:
Born: June 19, 1903 in New York.
Died: June 2, 1941
Teams: New York Yankees (1923-39)
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1939
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Primary position: First baseman
Career Highlights:
- Played in a then-record 2,130 consecutive games, from 1925 to 1939.
- In between, was one of the best hitters in baseball history, batting .340 with 493 home runs and teaming with Babe Ruth as perhaps the greatest 1-2 punch ever.
- Had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 runs and 100 RBI, averaging 139 runs and 148 RBI.
- Set an AL record with 184 RBI in 1931. Three of the top six RBI seasons in history belong to Gehrig.
- Won six World Series (hitting .361 with 10 homers).
- Hit 23 career grand slams.
After Retirement:
- Forced to retire at age 34 when diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
- Made a famous speech on July 4, 1939 at Yankee Stadium, calling himself the "luckiest man on the face of the earth" after a tremendous ovation by fans.
- Was the first player to ever have his uniform number (No. 4) retired.
- Died on June 2, 1941.
