On the Fourth of July in 1939, Lou Gehrig said farewell to fans at Yankee Stadium because he had contracted a fatal disease. He added, “I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for.”
Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”
Regular Stateside contributor Dr. Howard Markel said there are some questions as to whether Gehrig received the proper diagnosis. If it wasn't ALS, then what could have killed the Yankee legend?
GUEST Howard Markel is a University of Michigan medical historian and PBS Newshourcontributor.
