MLB honors Lou Gehrig with number 4 patch across league
All MLB players, coaches and umpires are wearing a special number 4 patch this week as part of Lou Gehrig Day, which raises ALS awareness and celebrates the Yankees legend’s legacy.
Key points
- MLB has instituted a league‑wide number 4 patch on uniforms for Lou Gehrig Day
- The patch features Yankees colors and appears on the upper left chest
- Red “4‑ALS” wristbands and stadium logos accompany the tribute
- Lou Gehrig Day, held each June, promotes ALS research and honors Gehrig’s career
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.
Your questions, answered
Why are MLB uniforms featuring a number 4 patch this week?
The league is honoring Lou Gehrig on Lou Gehrig Day, using the patch to raise ALS awareness.
What does the red wristband worn by players say?
The wristband reads “4‑ALS,” linking the number 4 tribute to ALS awareness.
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