Heinrich Ludwig (Henry Louis) Gehrig, first baseman for the New York Yankees. The team captain ("The Pride of the Yankees"), and, early in his career, second banana to Babe Ruth, a bon vivant who was, personality-wise, a polar opposite to the straight-arrow Gehrig. Gehrig was nearly as great a ballplayer as the legendary Ruth; his most enduring record was the 2,130 consecutive games he played (1925-1939), before ALS ended his career. His fame brought needed attention to the disease.