Legion Baseball teams encouraged to participate in Lou Gehrig Day on June 2

Major League Baseball will again celebrate Lou Gehrig with special events on June 2, and American Legion Baseball programs are encouraged to do likewise.

In 2021, MLB began an annual tradition of observing Lou Gehrig Day on June 2 to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and those afflicted with the debilitating disease that affects the nervous system. Gehrig, a Hall of Fame first baseman with the New York Yankees died on June 2, 1941 — his 37th birthday — from ALS.

A 2021 resolution adopted by The American Legion’s National Executive Committee (NEC) encourages “every American Legion Baseball team to observe a moment of silence before their game(s) each year on June 2 in memory of Major League Baseball’s great Lou Gehrig and all veterans who suffer or have died from ALS.”

In 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established ALS as a presumptive military service-connected disease. This allows veterans with ALS to be eligible for service-connected benefits.

A speech is available for American Legion Baseball teams to use for Lou Gehrig Day events. The speech is available here.

American Legion Baseball teams who participate in Lou Gehrig Day are encouraged to share photos and details on the Baseball tab at Legiontown.org.