On June 2, 1941, the world lost one of its greatest athletes, New York Yankees first baseman and American icon, Lou Gehrig. Lou passed away at the age of 37 after a prolonged battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Born Henry Louis Gehrig in Manhattan on June 19, 1903, Lou discovered his passion for baseball while attending Columbia University.His career began in 1923, when he made his first debut as a member of the Yankees at 21 years old—a position he held throughout his entire professional career. Over the next 15 years, Lou established himself as a formidable force on the diamond, breaking records and earning the nickname “Iron Horse” for his consistency in playing 2,130 consecutive games. Lou’s talents and spirit enabled his team to reach six World Series titles, and he was both an All Star in six different years and the American League’s Most Valuable Player twice in 1936 and 1937. His impressive career stats include being the hardiest hitter in history, batting .340 and boasting over 493 home runs before his retirement in 1939. Although his retired Yankees number 4 was retired the same year Lou stepped away from baseball, his honors and records endure, and they serve as an enduring testament to his irreplaceable talent and spirit. May he rest in peace.