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I'm taking a mental break tonight.

So, in lieu of new content, I invite you to take some time to read up on Lou Gehrig, since today is Lou Gehrig Day in baseball.

Gehrig's baseball prowess goes without saying but he played 17 seasons and 2,130 straight games with almost -- but not exactly -- 2,000 RBIs as well as 493 home runs.

To be clear, not 500 home runs.

He had 2,721 hits and would have certainly gotten to 3,000 had ALS not sapped him of his ability perhaps as early as 1937. It was clearly a factor in 1938 and, of course, ended his career in 1939. Most devastating, he died on June 2, 1941.

Off the field, he was regarded as the finest of gentlemen. There were no stories of carousing -- even now, 99 years after he first appeared on the Yankees' roster as a 20-year-old. The only quirks that have been discovered, mostly by Jonathan Eig in his remarkable book Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, was that Larrupin' Lou could be cheap.

Literally, that's it.

He was content to be in the shadow of the mighty Babe Ruth.

He doted on his mother and, later, on his beloved wife Eleanor.

He was great with kids, fans, the front office, and the writers.

He was seen mostly either beating up on baseballs or flashing a large smile, complete with dimples.

He wanted baseball's shameful color barricade broken, saying, "I don’t believe there’s any room in baseball for discrimination. It’s our true national pastime and a game for all.”

He remains on the Mount Rushmore of the Yankees and still sits on most top 10 lists of baseball all-time in terms of best ever players.

That warms my heart. We haven't forgotten about him.

Still, many simply know the name. They know he died of the disease ALS. They might know he was a baseball player and/or that he played for the Yankees.

Because he wasn't flashy, he often remains in the shadows.

I'm glad tonight is Lou Gehrig Day in baseball, primarily to raise awareness for the battle against ALS. Unbeknownst to many, it's the reason we all dumped buckets of ice water on our heard in 2014. It was something I was enormously proud to do, even if those I challenged ignored me.

I want you to understand how awful ALS is and why we need to fight it. There are many people you can ask about it and you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

But I also want you to know about Lou Gehrig the man because he was pretty special.

The Iron Horse.

The guy known as "Biscuit Pants" (if you saw his legs, you'd get it).

"Larrupin' Lou."

Still the gold standard at first base.

Not the GOAT but a GOAT.

Tonight, players aren't all wearing his number four. They're wearing patches on the front of their jerseys. Is it enough? I'm not sure. But I'll take it. I'm glad Gehrig is being recognized. I'm glad ALS is being talked about.

So I've given you the basics about him.

Now go read up.

Keep spreading the word about this insidious disease. But, also, keep spreading the stories of this great man.