Matt Olson Shines for Braves on Lou Gehrig Day with Game-Winning Homer

ATLANTA (AP) — On a day commemorating Lou Gehrig, Matt Olson, the current iron man of baseball, delivered a crucial performance for the Atlanta Braves. Olson celebrated his 844th consecutive game by smashing a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, leading the Braves to a 4-3 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays. The 17th home run of his season was aided by a favorable wind that helped the ball clear the high brick wall in right field. “I did not think it was a homer,” Olson admitted. “Luckily, we had some wind blowing out that way.”

This moment was particularly fitting as Major League Baseball recognized the 85th anniversary of Gehrig's passing from ALS at the age of 37, a disease that claimed the life of the legendary player and halted his then-record streak of 2,130 consecutive games. Olson, who also recorded a double and scored a run to help Atlanta take a 3-2 lead in the third inning, has maintained the longest active streak in the majors since May 2, 2021. “We've talked about the streak,” he noted. “It's not something I'm hanging up on a pedestal. But to be able to show up and play while I'm able to, I want to.”

Braves manager Walt Weiss heaped praise on Olson's resilience, drawing a parallel to Gehrig. “Lou Gehrig was one of my all-time heroes,” Weiss reflected. “What a legacy he left behind. And you've got our iron man hitting the game-winning homer on Lou Gehrig Day, so very appropriate."

Olson joined the Braves in a significant trade with the Athletics before the 2022 season, stepping into the role vacated by Freddie Freeman. Since then, he has excelled, hitting a franchise-record 54 homers in 2023 and continuing to contribute significantly to a team with the league's best record at 41-20. “He's rock-solid in every way,” Weiss said. “He's so reliable.”

The 32-year-old Olson expressed his preference for playing regularly, stating, “I just don't like sitting. I've had days off in the past and, man, it sucks sitting there and watching everybody else play. If you can go, you should go.” His ongoing streak is the longest since Miguel Tejada's 1,152 consecutive games from 2000 to 2007. Gehrig's record was surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr., who played in 2,632 consecutive games during his illustrious career.

Olson also values Gehrig's impact on raising awareness for ALS, a debilitating neurological condition. “I know people from my area who've been affected by it,” Olson said. “A brutal disease. Every time we get a chance to bring some awareness to it and do something to help people who are really affected by it, we're all for it.”