New York Yankees 1 E 161st St.

Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 330-1234

Contact: Paige Borgman, New York Yankees Publicist (567)686-6510 For Immediate Release Lou Gehrig says farewell NEW YORK (July 4, 1939)Lou Buster Gehrig said farewell to baseball today at Yankee Stadium. The all-star first baseman was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis forcing him to hang up his jersey for good. People gathered at Yankee Stadium to witness Gehrigs goodbye to baseball and to his fans. Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I go. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth, Gehrig said. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Gehrig is one of the most accomplished athletes of his time. He is a seven time all-star, six time World Series champion, Triple Crown winner and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. Gehrig gave a brief but memorable goodbye and will be missed by the entire baseball community. Gehrig concluded his farewell and said, So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for. -END-

The New York Yankees are part of the Major League Baseball National division. The Yankees are an equal opportunity employer and strive to make a difference in the community as well as the MLB.