This Day in New York Yankees History 6/2: RIP Lou Gehrig

Just a quick reminder to everyone that today was the day the New York Yankees All Star slugger Lou Gehrig lost his battle with ALS. ALS would soon be renamed Lou Gehrig's disease after the Iron Horse lost his battle with the deadly disease. The Yankees arrived in Detroit on this sad day in 1941 and learned of their captain passing away seventeen days prior to his 38th birthday.

Gehrig died in his sleep in his Riverdale home due to complications with ALS. It was also on this day exactly 16 years ago that Gehrig broke into the Yankees lineup for the first time.

Rest in peace Lou.





Also on this day in 1935 the Boston Braves outfielder Babe Ruth finally announces his retirement from Major League Baseball. The 40 year old former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees slugger wanted to retire three weeks prior to this announcement but was persuaded to stick it out by Braves owner Emil Fuchs. His reasoning was that Boston hadn't played in every National League park yet, whatever that had to do with anything.