VIDEO: Remembering Lou Gehrig's Famous Yankee Stadium Farewell Speech Ahead of its 80th Anniversary

July 4, 1939 was an emotional day at Yankee Stadium. Lou Gehrig stepped up to the microphone delivered his "Luckiest Man" speech to a sold-out crowd. As we approach Independence Day this year, we will hit 80 years since the Iron Horse delivered his famous oration, bringing about nostalgia for those who might still remember the incredible scenes that unfolded in the Bronx that day.

The speech is still recognized as one of the greatest moments in sports, and was even immortalized in the film "The Pride of the Yankees," in which Gehrig was portrayed by Gary Cooper. The legendary first baseman stepped up to the mic with a heavy heart and a tear in his eye, as he knew his career had come to an end.

He was forced to retire from baseball due to a disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As great of a speech Gehrig gave the Yankee fans that day, his on-field achievements were even better.

Gehrig sported a batting average of .340, smashed 493 home runs, and recorded 1,995 RBI's. He played in 2,130 consecutive games and has a lifetime OPS of 1.080, which is third behind only Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.

Gehrig's career and life was cut way too short due to ALS, but the legacy of the Yankee icon will live on forever.

Full Text of Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" Farewell Speech at Yankee Stadium

Fans, for the past two weeks, you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift-- that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies-- that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter-- that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body-- it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.