The team won an unprecedented four straight World Series titles from 1936 to 1939.[54] For most of 1939, however, they had to do it without Gehrig, who took himself out of the lineup on May 2 and retired due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which was later known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" in his memory.[55][56] The Yankees declared July 4, 1939 to be "Lou Gehrig Day", on which they retired his number 4, the first retired number in baseball.[57] Gehrig made a famous speech in which he declared himself to be "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."[58] He died two years later on June 2, 1941.[59]