Performing in the shadow of Babe Ruth, legendary baseball player Lou Gehrig (1903–1941), the Pride of the Yankees, did more than just endure—he shined.

Born on this day in New York, Gehrig earned the nickname “The Iron Horse,” playing in 2,130 consecutive games from 1925 to 1939.

One of the greatest players of his era, the resilient first baseman held a lifetime batting average of .340, with 493 home runs and a record 23 grand slams.

“You don’t get the breaks unless you play with the team instead of against it,” he once said.

He retired in 1939 after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the incurable neuromuscular disease that would bear his name. The ALS ribbon (pictured) was inspired by his Yankee uniform.

ALS knows no boundaries—affecting about 30,000 Americans, with 5,000 new cases annually. The ALS Association continues to offer advocacy, resources, and hope for a cure.

June 21 is Global ALS Awareness Day. Writer Harriet Lerner reminds us: “As long as we can feel hope, there is hope.”

Hope is what Lou Gehrig radiated. A true hero in every sense, he was the first player to have his number retired (#4). In his farewell speech, he told fans, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I may have been given a bad break, but with all this, I have a lot to live for.”