At baseball stadiums across the country this July 4, Major League Baseball (MLB) plans to honor the legacy of Hall-of-Famer Lou Gehrig by raising funds and promoting awareness of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
MLB is teaming up with the ALS Association and three other nonprofits dedicated to finding a cure for the debilitating neurodegenerative disease.
On July 4, each home team will host an on-field reading during the 7th inning stretch of Gehrig’s famous farewell speech in which he said "today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." The date marks the 70th anniversary of Gehrig’s speech at Yankee Stadium.
All players will wear a "4 ALS" patch on their chest and MLB will promote the effort in a variety of ways, including in-stadium promotions. MLB.com will conduct an online auction to raise funds for the cause.
The ALS Association, through research and assistance for people with ALS via a nationwide network of chapters, builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure, the group said.
MLB said it plans to look for ways to continue to partner with the ALS Association and the other organizations affiliated with the 4 ALS Awareness campaign, including the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a nonprofit with a 30-person research team working aggressively for a cure.
The other organizations, Project A.L.S. and MDA Augie’s Quest, fund millions of dollars in research annually, including in the areas of genetics, drug discovery, stem cells and disease pathways.
"Major League Baseball is making a huge difference in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease through this July 4 effort," said Augie Nieto, founder and chief inspiration officer for MDA’s Augie’s Quest. "Both in terms of public awareness and fundraising, the MLB contribution is significant and has a profound impact on the lives of people living with this devastating disease."