Today is a special day across Major League Baseball, as the league honors New York Yankees legendary first baseman Lou Gehrig.
On July 4, 1939, Gehrig announced that he would be stepping away from the game due to ALS.
He died on June 2 two years later, exactly 16 years to the date when he began his streak.
But this year, the Yankees are doing something special for the Fourth of July, as they celebrate the anniversary of Gehrig’s “luckiest man” speech.
They will have MLB.com writer Sarah Langs, who just last December was diagnosed with ALS, in attendance as their HOPE Week honoree.
On Twitter, the Yankees posted a clip from a Zoom meeting, when Langs learned this news.
The New York Yankees are proud to announce that they will honor @SlangsOnSports as their HOPE Week honoree on Tuesday, July 4 — the 84th anniversary of Lou Gehrig making his famous “Luckiest Man” speech.
Earlier this week, Sarah learned about the honor via a surprise Zoom with… pic.twitter.com/wnlherTxf1
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2023
Langs is certainly an inspiration to all as she fights through this terrible disease.
The video shows several members of the Yankees front office, roster, and coaching staff letting Langs know that she would be this year’s honoree.
Langs was truly touched by this moment and fought back tears of joy as she accepted the invitation.
She also told a story about recently speaking with ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who had covered the first “Lou Gehrig Day” back in 2009.
That year was the 70th anniversary of Gehrig’s speech, and Langs ended up being in attendance at Yankee Stadium that day.
Since then, it has become a tradition for her to be at Yankee Stadium on this special day.
As the video went on, the Yankees shared words of encouragement with her and credited her for being a true inspiration to all.
On July 4, the Yankees will play host to the Baltimore Orioles.
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