It has been 77 years since the luckiest man on the face of the earth gave the greatest speech in sports history, and bowed out of the game.
Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day was held at the Stadium on July 4, 1939, just two months and two days after Gehrig benched himself and 13 days after announcing his retirement. The Yankees honored The Iron Horse by retiring his number 4 from service, making him the first player in Major League Baseball history bestowed with the honor. Among the 61,000 plus in attendance were members of the 1927 Murderers Row team, dignitaries, New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and Postmaster General James Farley.