MLB players to wear special No. 4 patch to celebrate the fourth-annual Lou Gehrig Day on Sunday

ALS, more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord and is most prevalent adult-onset progressive motor neuron disease, affecting approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. and an estimated 500,000 people worldwide per MLB’s release. There is no known cure for the disease, which is still as terminal today as it was for Gehrig, although medical research has advanced to slow down the progression of the symptoms.

Lou Gehrig was one of the all-time great first baseman in the history of baseball, and a key player on some of the great Yankee teams in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a career .340 hitter with 493 home runs and 1,995 RBI, winning American League MVP Awards in 1927 and 1936. At one point in his career, the Iron Horse played in 2,130 consecutive games, a mark that stood for more than half a century before getting eclipsed by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995. Ripken will discuss Gehrig’s legacy on the game in three separate vignettes and the link between the two players.

In addition to the No. 4 patch, which will be displayed on the upper left chest part of the uniform, there will be red 4-ALS wristbands, special commemorative bases, and lineup cards. All broadcast booths will have an illuminated “4” displayed and there will be a pregame ceremony featuring a commemorative video and graphics, including localized club-specific activations taking place in ballparks nationwide. Sarah Langs, an MLB reporter and researcher currently battling ALS, will narrative a Lou Gehrig Day tribute video that will honor those who lost their lives to the disease in the past year.

Starting on June 2, MLB will run a special auction. This auction will include a commemorative one-of-a-kind authenticated Lou Gehrig Day TOPPS NOW card of players selected by Langs. All proceeds go to the The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS. You can take part in the auction by going to http://www.mlb.com/lgdayauction.