On This Date in...

1938:  Lou Gehrig, playing in his 2000th consecutive game,
delivers an RBI single and a walk as the Yankees outscore the Red Sox 12-9 in the Bronx.  There are so many remarkable stats in Gehrig's career; let's focus on walks this time.  While crushing 493 home runs, he walked 1508 times.  Of course, that's a sign of respect.  And while walks are valued even more these days -- prioritizing on-base percentage and OPS -- did you know that the Greatest New York City Born Player Ever walked 90 or more times in 13 consecutive seasons?? And in 11 of those seasons (including 1938), he got a free pass 100 times or more?  Balance that against him striking out just 790 times -- Lou walked nearly twice as much as he was whiffed.  Who does that today?

Our other milestone involves another product of New York City public schools:


2008:  Manny Ramirez becomes the 24th player to reach 500 career home runs... when he connects in the 7th inning off the Orioles' Chad Bradford.  The Red Sox roll to a 6-3 victory at Camden Yards.

(I never snapped a photo of Manny in a Boston uniform, so this image from Spring Training 2010, will have to do.)

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