Profile of the Day: Lou Gehrig

Are you a baseball fan? On this day in 1903, baseball legend Lou Gehrig was born in Yorkville, New York.

Lou Gehrig / Library of Congress

Henry Louis Gehrig was the second of four children born to German immigrant parents. The only child to survive infancy, Gehrig grew up in poverty but showed an aptitude for academics and sports. He attended Columbia University on a football scholarship and studied engineering. In 1923, Gehrig signed with the New York Yankees. Nicknamed “The Iron Horse,” Gehrig would set several major league records, including the most career grand slams. Sadly, his career was put to an end after being diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease today. In 1939, Gehrig was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fun fact: Lou Gehrig’s birthday falls on the anniversary of the very first officially recorded organized baseball game played under rules established by the “father of baseball,” Alexander Cartwright.

Explore Lou Gehrig’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the baseball legend!