On this date, June 2nd in 1941, Lou Gehrig passed away after a two-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the disease that now bears his name. It  was exactly 16 years to the day that “The Iron Horse” had replaced Wally Pipp at first base for the New York Yankees, to begin his famed 2,130-consecutive game streak.

He was only 37 years old.

Henry Louis Gehrig

An American legend, “The Pride of the Yankees,” and a player of incomparable slugging feats, Lou Gehrig was also a great human being, beloved by all who knew him. Through it all, Gehrig remained a man of quiet modesty. Here are some of his achievements on the baseball diamond:

Gehrig holds the major league record with Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx with 13 seasons of driving in over 100 runs, with only his seasons being consecutive.  A lifetime .340 hitter, he led the league in home runs three times and in RBI’s five different times. Gehrig also scored over 100 runs in 13 consecutive years.

Lou Gehrig’s other career records:

Most grand slams: 23

Most runs batted in (RBI) by a first baseman: 1,995

Most consecutive seasons with 120 or more RBIs: 8 (1927-1934)

Most runs scored by a first baseman: 1,888

Highest on-base percentage by a first baseman:: .447

Highest slugging percentage by a first baseman: .632

Most walks by a first baseman: 1,508

Most extra base hits by a first baseman: 1,190

Single season records:

Most runs batted-in by a first baseman: 184 (1931)

Most runs scored by a first baseman: 167 (1936)

Highest slugging percentage by a first baseman: .765 (1927)

Extra-base hits by a first baseman: 117 (1927)

Most total bases by a first baseman 447 (1927)

Single game records:

Most home runs in one game: 4

Other baseball accomplishments:

6-time World Series Champion

Scored game-winning run in 8 World Series games.

Selected to the first seven All-Star games ever played.

2-time American League MVP (1927, 1936)

1934 Triple Crown winner (.363 BA, 49 HR, 165 RBI)

One of only six players (along with Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, and Ted Williams) to end their career with a minimum .320 batting average, 350 home runs, and 1,500 RBI.

With Albert Pujols, one of two players to hit 40 doubles and 40 home runs in the same season three separate times (1927, 1930, 1934).

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The Robert A. Stehlin Campaign for ALS (R.A.S.C.A.L.S.) is a 501(c)(3) public charity.

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