This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Monday, June 2, 1941

Lou Gehrig dies in New York

Yankees great Lou Gehrig died in his Riverdale home, succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at age 37. Gehrig, once nicknamed "The Iron Horse," had begun complaining of weakness during the 1938 season and his health worsened the following year. Before a May 2 game in 1939, he pulled himself from the lineup, snapping his then-record streak of consecutive games played at 2,130. After a series of tests at the Mayo Clinic, Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS, the condition now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. His retirement was announced June 21 and, on July 4, he made his famous "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech before 61,808 at Yankee Stadium. The New York native and former Columbia student was a two-time MVP, won the 1934 Triple Crown, was a member of six World Series championship teams, and batted .340 with 493 homers and 1,995 RBIs in a 17-year career.