Lou Gehrig (June 19, 1903 — June 2, 1941) was a Major League first baseman who played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He contributed to one of the greatest teams in baseball history, the 1927 Yankees.
Gehrig was known as "The Iron Horse" for his durability. Between 1925 and 1939, he played in 2,130 consecutive games, a span of 14 years. The streak was broken after Gehrig became disabled with a fatal neuromuscular disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, that later became known as "Lou Gehrig's disease". His streak, once believed to be one of baseball's few unbreakable records, stood until shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles played in his 2,131st consecutive game on September 6, 1995.
Other nicknames given to Gehrig included "Columbia Lou", "Biscuit Pants" and "Larrupin' Lou."
Late in his career, Gehrig's hands were x-rayed, which showed that he had suffered 17 distinct fractures - some old, some new. It is a testament to his toughness; considering how battered his hands alone were, it is likely Gehrig's body was in poor shape throughout his career.
