Established in 2021, Lou Gehrig Day is celebrated each year on June 2 across Major League Baseball to honor the Hall of Famer’s legacy and raise awareness about ALS throughout the world. This league-wide initiative includes special ballpark recognitions and ceremonies to honor groups and individuals who have led the pursuit for ALS research in their communities, fundraising programs for ALS charities and opportunities through on-field personnel, TV and radio broadcasts and social media to support the fight against ALS.
Zac Brown Band Post-Game Benefit Concert 4ALS
Presented by Ohio Lottery
On June 2, the Reds caught the attention of Sports Business Journal, Yahoo News and other national media with an action-packed night of baseball and music at Great American Ball Park, punctuated by a Zac Brown Band benefit concert 4-ALS.
A regular season record crowd of 44,073—just surpassing the 44,063 from Opening Day this year—packed the park on MLB’s third annual Lou Gehrig Day, which honors the Hall of Famer’s legacy while raising awareness and funds for ALS research. It also marked the largest attended concert in Great American Ball Park history, topping Paul McCartney’s show in 2011 (40,178).
A portion of the proceeds from all tickets sold for the game benefited the Hop On A Cure Foundation to fight ALS, which is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The foundation, started by band member John Driskell “Hop” Hopkins and his wife Jennifer after the bass player was diagnosed with ALS in December 2021, is committed to supporting the research to prevent, reverse and cure ALS while raising awareness, building a compassionate community, and unleashing the healing power of hope.
Hopkins helped kick off the evening by singing the national anthem. The Reds also recognized several groups during pregame ceremonies: the Lou Gehrig Day Committee, the Central & Southern Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and I am ALS.
In a ceremony following the game, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson and pitcher Graham Ashcraft presented a check to Hop On A Cure for $125,000. Zac Brown Band also presented a signed guitar to the Reds which will be displayed in the team’s front office lobby. To cap off a tremendous night on and off the field, it was announced that an additional $75,000 was donated by fans to the foundation, boosting the total money raised over $200,000.
About Hop On A Cure Foundation
John Driskell Hopkins (Hop), a founding and active member of Zac Brown Band, was diagnosed with ALS in December of 2021 and immediately went into action by creating Hop On A Cure Foundation, Inc. Hop On A Cure is committed to supporting research to prevent, reverse, and cure ALS while raising awareness, building a compassionate community, and unleashing the healing power of hope.
MLB Lou Gehrig Day
About Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is a multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning, Southern rock group led by front man, Zac Brown. Throughout their career spanning more than a decade, Zac Brown Band has had six consecutive albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and five consecutive albums debut at #1 on Billboard's Country Albums chart. To date, the group has won three GRAMMY Awards, including Best New Artist in 2010, sold more than 30 million singles, 9 million albums, amassed over 10 billion catalog streams, achieved 16 #1 radio singles and are the second act to top both the Country and Active Rock formats. Zac Brown Band has headlined 8 North American Tours and currently holds the record for most consecutive sold-out shows at the iconic Fenway Park. Symbolic of their massive success at the ballpark, in July 2022, Zac Brown Band was inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame, joining music icons Paul McCartney and Billy Joel. Since their debut, Zac Brown Band has developed a reputation with critics and fans alike as one of the most dynamic live performers, marked by strong musicianship that defies genre boundaries.