Projo Sox Blog

Today marks the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's emotional farewell speech, and the moment will be commemorated in stadiums across the country.

At Fenway, players and umpires are wearing a "4-ALS" patch to celebrate Gehrig and raise awareness of what is colloquially known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

The little-known disease ended Gehrig's playing career, and then took his life. Gehrig is remembered today as much for his as for the graceful farewell address he delivered on July 4, 1939, as he is for his storied playing career and his consecutive games-played streak. The speech featured several poetic lines, particularly its gracious and thankful opening:

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth," Gehrig said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona has thought more about the famous clip, and about ALS, since managing Curt Schilling, who has done extensive fundraising and awareness work to combat ALS.

"When I first saw it, I'm not sure if I put enough emotion into it," Francona said, continuing later, "Now, with everything that's going on, and being around Schill a little bit, and everything they did in Philadelphia to raise money for ALS, I'm a little more aware now."

The team also wore red 'stars and stripes' caps in honor of Independence Day. The Vermont Air National Guard conducted a flyover following the national anthem.

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