Happy 4th of July, everyone.

This is a throwback to the A Brief History episode I did last summer about Lou Gehrig's

luckiest man speech.

This year, I will be announced that from

here on out, June 2nd will be Lou Garrick Appreciation Day. Why June 2nd? It was on that date in

1925 that Garrick became the Yankee's starting first baseman, Wally Pipping, Wally Pip.

Sadly, it's also the day in 1941 that he passed away. It's great that there's now a day honoring Lou, while also raising more awareness for ALS,

and frankly, I don't know what took so long.

But that's not what we're here to talk about today.

On July 4, 1939, a sellout crowd watched the Yankees play two baseball games against

the Washington Senators.

Yes, it was a holiday

and the games probably would have been packed anyway, but the 61,808 people who went to Yankee

Stadium that day went because it was Lou Garrick Appreciation Day. Two weeks prior, Garick was

forced into retirement. Two months prior, Garrick played his last game. He was only 35 years old.

After his sudden retirement and news of his illness was known, reporters started to suggest that the

team and the league should do something to honor the Iron Horse. A ceremony at the All-Star game

was considered, but ultimately the team chose intermission of the July 4th doubleheader.

Garrig was honored on the infield diamond for over 40 minutes. It was the first ceremony of its kind in baseball.

His number four was retired, also the first time a uniform number had been retired. Technically,

Garrig's number wasn't officially retired by the Yankees until

January 6th, 1940 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you may also see this date

...