Henry Louis Gehrig, whose birth name was Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig and who was born on June 19, 1903, was a first baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball for 17 seasons. The nickname “the Iron Horse” was given to Lou Gehrig because of his legendary hitting and fielding abilities.
He is commonly considered to be among baseball’s all-time greats. He won the Triple Crown once, was named AL MVP twice, and played on six World Series winning teams. He was selected as an All-Star seven years in a row. However, during his play, he was diagnosed with a serious illness which ultimately led to his death.
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What Is The Cause Of Death Of Lou Gehrig?
On June 2, 1941, 82 years ago, Lou Gehrig passed away. On August 17, 2010, the results of a study were published that sparked rumours about what may have killed Lou Gehrig.
The study included 12 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) patients who were former athletes. Three of the 12 were found to have symptoms that matched those of Lou Gehrig, who passed away from amyotophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The condition known as ALS is quite uncommon. Each year, somewhere around 6,000 people in the United States receive a diagnosis. Trauma to the brain can cause signs and symptoms that are comparable to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The three people who had symptoms similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease had spinal cord abnormalities, the researchers found. They thought that fatal brain trauma, such as a concussion or an attack on the central nervous system, was the cause of death.
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The research also confirmed the diagnosis of ALS in two former NFL players: Wally Hillenburg and Eric Scoggins.
Over his career, Gehrig took a number of blows to the head. Because he was Lou Gehrig, he kept playing even though he had broken bones and was knocked out.
The study’s principal neuropathologist, Dr. Anne McKee of the New England Veterans Administration Medical Centers, speculated that Gehrig’s death may have been caused by his numerous concussions rather than ALS.
McKee told the New York Times, “Here he is, the face of his disease, and he may have had a different disease as a result of his athletic experience.”
One cannot say enough about how dangerous blows to the head are. Not until the 1950s did players start to regularly wear batting helmets. Formerly, players would only wear a plastic liner inside their hat for protection. You can check the official tweet by NYT Health below.
Seventy five years after Lou Gehrig's death, A.L.S. remains a life-threatening illness. https://t.co/MqCh5EprRo pic.twitter.com/apZwsR8PC1
— NYT Health (@NYTHealth) May 29, 2017
ALS will forever be regarded as the official reason of Gehrig’s death. Whether it was ALS or the many concussions he disregarded, he ultimately died from something.
When Did Lou Gehrig Was Diagnosed With ALS?
The day before his 36th birthday, on June 19, 1939, Gehrig and his wife Eleanor went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS. On the field, before he was diagnosed, Gehrig experienced a loss of strength, slipped and fell, and lost coordination.
Immediately after receiving his diagnosis, Gehrig made the decision to end his baseball career. On July 4, 1939, the Yankees honoured their former first baseman Lou Gehrig by designating the day as “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium.
Finally, the topic of Lou Gehrig cause of death has been discussed. The renowned baseman has died after a long battle with Amyotophic Lateral Sclerosis. You may get additional information at talkxbox.com.