This extensive Wikipedia entry provides a comprehensive biography of legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, chronicling his life from his early days in New York City to his baseball career and tragic death. The text details his professional accomplishments, such as his career statistics, numerous awards, and his famous 2,130 consecutive games streak, earning him the nickname "The Iron Horse." Crucially, the source outlines the sudden decline in his health, the subsequent diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called "Lou Gehrig's disease," and his emotional "luckiest man" farewell speech. Finally, the document covers Gehrig's retirement, posthumous honors, his enduring legacy in baseball history, and the possibility that his illness may have been related to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).