CHICAGO - 1938. Lou Gehrig whacks a double into left center in a game at Yankee Stadium in 1938. Luke Sewell is the catcher for the opponent White Sox. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
Gehrig, who played his final game on June 30, 1939, received the early waiver to the five-year waiting period, due to his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The legendary slugging Yankees first baseman ranks second all-time in WAR (112.4) in franchise history, only behind his teammate and fellow masher, Babe Ruth.