Why Is Lou Gehrig Day Celebrated On June 2? The Meaning Behind The Date

For baseball fans, June 2 is something. Every year, MLB pauses to celebrate Lou Gehrig Day, honoring one of the sport’s most iconic figures while raising awareness for ALS, the disease that ultimately ended his life. Across the league, teams wear special patches, display “4-ALS” logos, and spotlight stories from those battling the illness.

The annual observance also celebrates Gehrig’s unmatched impact on the game. The Yankees legend won two MVP awards, captured a Triple Crown, and helped New York claim six World Series titles. His famous No. 4 became the first jersey number ever retired in professional sports, a tribute that reflected his place in baseball history.

Why Is Lou Gehrig Day Celebrated On June 2?

According to MLB’s Lou Gehrig Day initiative, the date marks the start of Gehrig’s legendary consecutive-games streak on June 2, 1925, a run that reached 2,130 games and earned him the nickname “The Iron Horse.” In a heartbreaking coincidence, June 2 is also the day he died from ALS complications in 1941. That connection made it the natural choice for baseball’s annual remembrance.