The 77th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech -- considered the Gettysburg Address of baseball -- resonates with the Baltimore Ravens.
O.J. Brigance, a former linebacker for the Ravens and the team's senior adviser to player engagement, has been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease) for nine years. Gehrig's words were delivered on July 4, 1939, and they still carry significant weight almost eight decades later, according to Brigance.
“On the 77th Anniversary of Lou Gehrig's historic retirement speech, I can't help but reflect on the courage, faith and humility displayed in the face of an extremely dire situation," Brigance wrote in an email.