Baseball fans across the country have noticed every MLB player, coach, and umpire wearing a special number patch on their uniforms this week. The reason: Major League Baseball is honoring Lou Gehrig, the legendary New York Yankees first baseman, as part of the fifth annual Lou Gehrig Day.
Lou Gehrig, known as “The Iron Horse,” wore number during his Hall of Fame career. He played,130 consecutive games for the Yankees, a record that stood for more than 50 years, and won six World Series titles before his career was cut short by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), now often called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Lou Gehrig Day, held every June, raises awareness for ALS and celebrates Gehrig’s enduring legacy. The No. patch, designed in Yankees colors and font, is worn by all players, managers, coaches, and umpires on the upper left chest of their uniforms. Many also wear red “4-ALS” wristbands, and ballparks feature commemorative logos and special events to support ALS research.
This tribute connects baseball’s past with its present, reminding fans and players alike of Gehrig’s impact on the game and the ongoing fight against ALS.
