Few names in sport carry the weight of Lou Gehrig. The New York Yankees first baseman played 2,130 consecutive games, hit .340 over 17 seasons and drove in 1,995 runs, all while batting behind Babe Ruth in the most feared line-up of its age. Yet he is remembered just as much for the dignity with which he said goodbye.
More than 80 years on, the Iron Horse remains one of baseball's most admired figures. Browse our New York Yankees collection.
Lou Gehrig Fact File
| Full name | Henry Louis Gehrig |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 June 1903 |
| Place of birth | East Harlem, New York City, USA |
| Died | 2 June 1941, the Bronx, New York (aged 37) |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Position | First baseman (bats left, throws left) |
| Nationality | American |
| Teams | New York Yankees (1923–1939) |
| Shirt number | 4 (the first number retired in MLB history) |
| Nickname | The Iron Horse |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Hits | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923–1926 | New York Yankees | 304 | 325 | 37 | 190 | .310 |
| 1927–1930 | New York Yankees | 617 | 814 | 150 | 618 | .357 |
| 1931–1934 | New York Yankees | 617 | 827 | 161 | 642 | .346 |
| 1935–1939 | New York Yankees | 626 | 755 | 145 | 545 | .330 |
| Career | Total | 2,164 | 2,721 | 493 | 1,995 | .340 |
Figures are regular-season totals from Baseball Reference, grouped by period with averages calculated from at-bats, and exclude World Series games.
Early Years in New York
Born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig in East Harlem to German immigrant parents, he starred at Commerce High School. He went on to Columbia University, where he studied engineering and played both football and baseball.
The Yankees signed him, and he made his debut as a pinch hitter on 15 June 1923.
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Breakthrough: Taking First Base
His chance came in 1925. On 2 June he started at first base in place of Wally Pipp, who later joked that he took "the two most expensive aspirins in history". Gehrig would not miss another game for almost 14 years.
By 1927 he was the AL MVP, hitting .373 with 47 home runs for a Yankees side that went on to win the World Series.
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The Iron Horse at His Peak
Through the 1930s Gehrig was a model of consistency. He drove in 185 runs in 1931, still the American League record, and on 3 June 1932 he hit four home runs in a single game against the Philadelphia Athletics.
In 1934 he won the Triple Crown with a .363 average, 49 home runs and 166 RBI, and in 1936 he collected a second MVP award. He captained the Yankees from 1935, was selected for the first seven All-Star Games and won six World Series titles.
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The Luckiest Man and His Legacy
On 2 May 1939 Gehrig took himself out of the line-up, ending his streak at 2,130 games. He had been diagnosed with ALS, the illness that ended his career and is still widely known in the US as Lou Gehrig's disease.
On 4 July 1939, before a packed Yankee Stadium, he called himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth". He was elected to the Hall of Fame that December and died in 1941. Cal Ripken Jr. finally passed his streak in 1995.
Honours
Team
- World Series champion: 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938
- Yankees captain (1935–1941)
Individual
- AL Most Valuable Player (1927, 1936)
- Triple Crown (1934)
- Seven-time All-Star (1933–1939)
- 2,130 consecutive games played
Recognition
- Baseball Hall of Fame (1939, special election)
- Number 4 retired by the Yankees (1939)
- Monument in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park
- MLB All-Century Team (leading vote-getter)
Away From the Game
He was married to Eleanor Gehrig (née Twitchell). Since 1955 Major League Baseball has presented the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to a player who best shows his character and integrity.
FAQs
How old was Lou Gehrig when he died?
Lou Gehrig died on 2 June 1941, aged 37, at his home in the Bronx, New York.
Where was Lou Gehrig born?
He was born in East Harlem, New York City, on 19 June 1903.
How tall was Lou Gehrig?
He was listed at 6 ft 0 in (183 cm).
What teams did Lou Gehrig play for?
He spent his entire Major League career with the New York Yankees, from 1923 to 1939.
How many consecutive games did Lou Gehrig play?
He played 2,130 consecutive games from 1925 to 1939, a record that stood until Cal Ripken Jr. passed it in 1995.
What was Lou Gehrig's 'Luckiest Man' speech?
On 4 July 1939 at Yankee Stadium, Gehrig told the crowd he considered himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth".
Shop the Lou Gehrig Collection
If the Iron Horse is your favourite Yankee, celebrate number 4 with designs made for fans who love the game's golden era.
Lou Gehrig Men's T-Shirt
£29.99
Lou Gehrig Men's Hoodie
£39.99
Explore more in our Baseball collection and New York Yankees collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Babe Ruth Career Story and Mickey Mantle Career Story.
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