This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson's Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
TORONTO -- Each year, Major League Baseball holds Lou Gehrig Day on June 2, recognizing the day he passed away from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
June is also ALS Awareness Month here in Canada, and on Tuesday, the Blue Jays will carry on the league-wide activity from the past week by hosting a dedicated awareness day at Rogers Centre. Like with so many clubs around the league, ALS hits close to home for several members of the Blue Jays.
On their current Major League roster, Daulton Varsho’s mother-in-law passed away from ALS and pitcher Tommy Nance’s father passed away in 2025 after a decade-long battle with the disease. Each player is expected to be involved with the day’s ceremonies and share their family’s stories over the years.
Last week, the Blue Jays recalled rookie right-hander Chad Dallas for his big league debut, another member of this organization whose family has been touched by ALS. Dallas’ father, Tony, passed away from ALS in 2025, and in Atlanta last week, Dallas was asked about the impact of his father and the timing of his baseball dream coming true.
“Very emotional. Very emotional,” Dallas said. “Getting the call on Lou Gehrig Day -- I don’t even know if I can talk about this too much, but a year after my dad passed away -- it was extremely special. Like a little God wink. Just tons of emotions. I’ve dreamed of this day since I was 3 or 4, since I started realizing what professional baseball was. Tons of emotions. Sad, tons of happy and super excited. Overall, it’s just an amazing experience.”
The Blue Jays will be raising awareness for ALS throughout Tuesday’s broadcast for TV viewers and throughout the stadium for fans attending the game against the Phillies. A pregame PSA video will be broadcast and the club will be hosting affected families in the Jays Care Community Clubhouse Suite. On the field, a father and grandfather living with ALS will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Blue Jays have also provided six signed commemorative baseballs to ALS Canada for yearly fundraising and will feature a Lou Gehrig-themed bat signed by George Springer in an MLB auction.
Those auctions, featuring signed bats from stars across Major League Baseball, can be found here. The Blue Jays are partnering with ALS Canada. Donations to ALS Canada can be made here.