On July 4, 1939, a sellout crowd watched the Yankees play two baseball games against the Washington Senators. Yes, it was a holiday and the stands would have been packed regardless, but the 61,808 people who went to Yankee Stadium that day attended because it was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day.
You can listen to the full history podcast about Lou Gehrig’s ‘Luckiest Man’ speech and the ceremony in his honor.
Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day
After Gehrig’s abrupt retirement and the news of his illness became public, reporters started to suggest the team or league should do something to honor The Iron Horse.