The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award was established by Lou Gehrig's college fraternity, Phi Delta Theta at Columbia University. The award is presented annually to the Major League baseball player who both on and off the field best exemplifies the character of Lou Gehrig.
Note: The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner is made annually based on the merits of the ballplayer from the previous year. The most recent winner, Salvador Perez, was announced on Lou Gehrig Day during the 2022 regular season, but recognized for his actions and accomplishments during the previous year, so he is officially considered the 2021 recipient.
"In the beginning I used to make one terrible play a game. Then I got so I'd make one a week and finally I'd pull a bad one about once a month. Now, I'm trying to keep it down to one a season." - Lou Gehrig in Get in the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance That Make the Difference (Ripken, Cal Jr. & Phillips, Donald Thomas. Gotham Press. 1 May 2007. Page 67.)
Did you know the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award was the first officially sanctioned Major League Baseball award given to ballplayers by a fraternity? Too easy? Did you know that the 1995 recipient, Curt Schilling, named his son after Lou Gehrig (Gehrig Schilling)?
The Major League Baseball Press Release (June 2, 2021) for 2020 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner, Stephen Piscotty, described in detail why he received this truly prestigous honor:
OAKLAND, Calif. — A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty has been named the recipient of this year’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity presents the award annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, a member of the fraternity. Piscotty, who is the first member of the Oakland A’s to win the award, will receive it in a pregame presentation on June 8 during the A’s ALS Awareness Day at the Coliseum.
Since 2017, Piscotty has been deeply involved with organizations dedicated to raising awareness and funds for much-needed ALS research. After Piscotty’s mother, Gretchen, passed away from ALS in 2018, Stephen and his family founded the ALS CURE Project, which has one goal: rid the world of ALS so no one has to suffer Gretchen’s fate. To learn more about the organization or get involved, visit alscure.net.
Throughout the years, Piscotty has participated in several fundraising events benefiting ALS research and has served as an ALS Ambassador for the league. Piscotty was a spokesperson for the 2019 MLB Winter Meetings Auction, which raised funds for ALS research by auctioning exclusive items and experiences from all 30 clubs. In 2020, the Piscotty family participated in the Mike Crawford Golf Tournament that featured 30 MLB players and benefited the ALS CURE Project. Piscotty and his dad, Mike, also participated in the Bay Bridge Series Virtual Auction, which included virtual experiences with Stephen.
During the 2020 season, Piscotty and the A’s teamed up to introduce the ALS CURE Project Foul Ball Zone as part of the Coliseum Cutouts program. The nearly 1,200 fans who purchased a cutout in this special section each received an autographed photo from Piscotty, and fans who “caught” a foul ball also received an autographed baseball. All of the proceeds from this section were donated to the ALS CURE Project in support of its mission.
Piscotty will receive the Lou Gehrig Memorial Day Award during a pregame presentation on June 8, when the A’s host their annual ALS Awareness Day. Ten dollars from each Field Level ticket sold for this game will be donated to the A’s Bay Area ALS partners, including the ALS CURE Project, the ALS Therapy Development Institute, and the ALS Association Golden West Chapter.
Positional breakdown for the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winners: sixteen pitchers, thirteen first basemen, nine shortstops, nine third basemen, seven right-fielders, two center-fielders, two left-fielders, three second basemen, three catchers, and one designated hitter.