Miami Marlins honor Lou Gehrig’s legacy and raise awareness for ALS
As part of ALS Awareness Month, the Miami Marlins recognized Lou Gehrig’s legacy and the fight against ALS during a special pregame ceremony at loanDepot park on Sunday, June 1. The tribute highlighted the continued impact of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects thousands of Americans each year.
Named after legendary baseball player Lou Gehrig, who was diagnosed in 1939, ALS remains one of the most complex and challenging disorders in medicine nearly 90 years later. In honor of Gehrig and all those battling the disease, the Marlins hosted a heartfelt on-field ceremony ahead of their matchup against the San Francisco Giants.
Marlins players Janson Junk, Jack Winkler, and Rob Brantly joined ALS patients, families, and honorees prior to the game, distributing ‘4ALS’ wristbands and patches as a symbol of support and solidarity.
As part of the on-field ceremony, Marlins third base coach, Blake Lalli, whose family was closely affected by ALS, met with Edil De Leon, an ALS patient, and his family to present De Leon with a custom Marlins motorized wheelchair.
It is extremely important to bring awareness to ALS and how it is affecting people and how it’s affecting families,” said Lalli. “I think anytime you raise awareness, you have a chance to possibly figure out the disease and put an end to it one day.”
Lalli went on to say, “It’s a great cause and a great thing that MLB is doing.”
De Leon is a devoted father of three, a special education teacher, and a retired elite powerlifter. He has dedicated his career to supporting children with autism and once ranked among the top U.S. middleweights, winning four Puerto Rican National Championships. Now facing ALS, De Leon continues to lead with strength by raising awareness, inspiring others, and showing what it means to live with purpose.
De Leon’s new wheelchair was made possible through the Lou Gerig Memorial Award in partnership with Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Permobil, and the Live Like Lou Foundation. This gift is in honor of Marlin’s pitcher Declan Cronin, and his nomination last fall for the Lou Gehrig Award. Every year, this award acknowledges an individual player’s outstanding commitment to his community and philanthropy.
"I’m deeply moved and incredibly grateful for the gift of this Marlins-branded Permobil wheelchair — it’s a true miracle of technology that brings comfort, freedom, and dignity into my life," said De Leon. "And even if, by the grace of God, I one day no longer need it, I will never forget the kindness and hope it represents."
Major League Baseball honors Lou Gehrig Day every year as it commemorates when Gehrig kicked off his historic professional baseball career and marks the day he passed from complications of ALS.
The Miami Marlins are committed to their support of the ALS community and celebrating the researchers, clinicians, advocates, and families leading the fight for a cure. One leader is Dr. Nathan Carberry of the University of Miami Health System, who has devoted his entire career to helping patients with ALS.
Carberry, an Assistant Professor of Neurology within UM’s Neuromuscular Division, has dedicated his work to caring for ALS patients and advancing clinical research. With a background in bioengineering, Carberry serves as an investigator for several clinical trials in ALS and started and currently manages the neurology department’s first genetic treatment intrathecal infusion clinic for ALS.
“Lou Gehrig Day at loanDepot park is a powerful show of solidarity for those living with ALS and their families,” said Carberry. “For our patients, seeing the community come together brings hope, awareness, and much-needed visibility to a disease that often feels isolating.
“The recognition helps validate their journey and reminds us all why continued support and advocacy matter.”
Through events like these, the Marlins stay committed to bringing awareness and shining a light on a disease that often goes unseen. This day serves as a reminder that the fight against ALS is far from over, but by honoring stories like De Leon’s and recognizing patients, families, and researchers, we can make a positive impact on the community.