On July 4th, 1939, one of the most iconic moments in baseball history took place at Yankee Stadium in New York. It was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day, and the "Iron Horse" himself, Lou Gehrig, delivered his famous "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech in front of a packed stadium.

Gehrig, who had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) just a few weeks earlier, had recently announced his retirement from baseball. The Yankees decided to honor their longtime first baseman with a special ceremony.

During the ceremony, Gehrig was showered with gifts and tributes from his teammates, coaches, and the Yankees organization. The climax of the event was Gehrig's emotional speech, which has since become one of the most famous and enduring moments in sports history.

With tears in his eyes, Gehrig began his speech by saying, "Fans, for the past two weeks, you have been reading about a bad break. Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." He went on to express his gratitude for his family, teammates, and the opportunity to play baseball at the highest level.

Gehrig's words resonated with the crowd and the entire nation. His bravery, humility, and positive attitude in the face of adversity inspired millions of Americans during a time of great hardship, as the country was still recovering from the Great Depression.

Lou Gehrig's speech on July 4th, 1939, remains one of the most powerful and memorable moments not just in baseball history, but in the history of American sports. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of sportsmanship and courage.