The Yankee great who died young from the disease later known by his name was Lou Gehrig. The New York Yankees first baseman was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1939 and died on June 2, 1941, at age 37.
Gehrig became one of baseball’s greatest stars, earning the nickname “the Iron Horse” after playing 2,130 consecutive games from 1925 to 1939. His remarkable streak ended when an unexplained illness weakened his performance. He officially retired shortly afterward, and his diagnosis brought national attention to a little-known neurological disease.
ALS damages motor neurons, progressively weakening voluntary muscles and eventually impairing movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing. In the United States, it became widely known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease” because of his public battle with it. ALS was not caused by Gehrig, nor was it scientifically named after him; his fame made the alternative name familiar.
A nearby fact often confused with this story is Gehrig’s famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. He called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” even while ending his celebrated career.