Nola, Phillies honor Lou Gehrig Day: ‘It means a lot to me’.
Former Phillies intern Michael Brown, MLB.com researcher and reporter Sarah Langs recognized before game.
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola knows firsthand what it’s like to watch a family member deal with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
He remembers when his uncle, Alan Andries, was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. At that time, Nola immediately immersed himself in the Phillies’ mission to Strike Out ALS — a cause that dates back to 1984 for the organization.
Andries passed away following a six-year battle with ALS in 2021, but Nola remains committed to doing everything he can to raise funds and awareness for the cause.
Prior to Sunday night’s game against the Cardinals, Nola and his teammates opened the door to the Phillies’ clubhouse to welcome in ALS patients and their families as part of Major League Baseball’s fourth annual Lou Gehrig Day. Among those in attendance was Michael Brown, a former marketing intern for the Phillies in 2000 who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year.
“It was a special moment,” said the 43-year-old Brown, who was joined by his wife, Elizabeth, and three children (Emerson, 15; Harper, 11; and Maddux, 12). “I’ve never been in a clubhouse like that before. Growing up playing baseball, and even playing all through college, I always dreamed that would happen — but those guys were awesome.”
Brown was joined by others impacted with ALS — including MLB.com researcher and reporter Sarah Langs — as they shared their stories with Phillies players and staff. They also took the field pregame, lining up with other afflicted families alongside Phillies players for the national anthem.
