On This Date in 1925...

Lou Gehrig pinch hits for shortstop Pee Wee Wanninger in the Yankees 5 - 3 loss to the Senators in the Bronx -- the first of his 2130 consecutive game appearances. Gehrig starts in place of Wally Pipp the next day, after the 1st baseman arrived at the ballpark with an apparent hangover. And then Gehrig started the next day... and the day after... and after... for nearly 14 years.
Along with Cal Ripken, who eclipsed his record in the modern era, Gehrig remains a symbol of integrity and dedication. A man who showed up for his job every day and went about his business without excuses. He just happened to be one of the greatest ever to set foot on a baseball field. And compared to his teammate Babe Ruth, he preferred to do it in a low key way -- if Lou played today, he would not be living his life in the tabloids.
While he played his final game 78 years ago, Lou Gehrig remains a revered Yankee, a man of courage whose image is among the parade of pinstriped heroes seen at the top of every Yankee telecast.

Comments

Anonymous said…
And exactly 16 years and one day later, died, a shell of the player and physical presence he once was, when he should have been on the field manning his post, but still with the heart and soul of the Yankee he was and will forever be.

Rob Dewey
June 1, 2017 at 7:43 AM
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