1989 Lou Gehrig

On June 10, 1989, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 25-cent commemorative stamp honoring baseball’s “Iron Horse,” Lou Gehrig (1903–1941). Part of the American Sports series, the stamp was dedicated at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, during the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It also marked fifty years since Gehrig’s retirement and his famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium.

Gehrig played 2,130 consecutive games for the New York Yankees. On August 17, 1933, he appeared in his 1,308th consecutive game, surpassing shortstop Everett Scott’s record of 1,307 games, established with the Boston Red Sox and Yankees from 1916 to 1925. Gehrig eventually extended the streak to nearly fourteen years, roughly five years longer than Scott’s.

Gehrig’s streak ended when he removed himself from the lineup on May 2, 1939, while struggling with symptoms later diagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. His record stood until Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it on September 6, 1995. Ripken eventually extended the record to 2,632 consecutive games.

Artist Bart Forbes combined a large portrait of Gehrig with a smaller image of him batting, capturing both the player and his presence at the plate. Jack Williams served as art director.

A total of 262,755,000 stamps were issued at 25 cents each, representing a total face value of $65,688,750. Printed by the American Bank Note Company using the photogravure process, the stamp was issued in panes of fifty and is cataloged as Scott 2417.