The Yankees announced they had acquired Columbia University star baseball player Lou Gehrig on June 12, 1923, although the signing had occurred a little more than a month before. Henry Louis Gehrig had the reputation of being the “Babe Ruth of the colleges.” because he hit the ball farther than any other college player. Gehrig made his Yankees’ debut on June 15, 1923 as a ninth inning defensive replacement for first baseman Wally Pipp. It would not be the only time that Lou Gehrig replaced Wally Pipp.
Gehrig Was Offered to Boston
Lou played for Hartford of the Eastern League in 1924 and 1925, hitting .304 and then .369. He joined the Yankees for his first full season in 1925, but not before there was a little intrigue. The Yankees offered Gehrig to the Red Sox in return for first baseman Phil Todt. The Boston team rejected the offer.
Gehrig Was An Outstanding World Series Player
Lou Gehrig played 14 complete seasons during which the Yankees won 7 pennants and 6 World Championships, not including world titles in 1923 and 1939, when Gehrig played briefly. Lou did pretty well in the World Series, batting .361 with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs, a .477 on base average, and a gaudy .731 slugging average.
Lou's Incredible Series
In 1926, the Yankees lost the Series to St.Louis, the only time Gehrig played on team that didn't win it. The next year the Yankees swept an outstanding Pirates' team as Gehrig slugged .769 thanks to a pair of doubles and a pair of triples. In 1928, Gehrig dominated the Series as the Yankees swept St.Louis, beating Jesse Haines and Grover Cleveland Alexander, the pitchers that had each defeated them twice in 1926. Lou batted .545 with 4 home runs in the four game Series, a .706 on base average and an incredible 1.727 slugging average.
Gehrig Hit "Only" .529
Connie Mack's great Athletics won the pennants from 1929-1931, but then the Yankees won in 1932 and this time swept the Cubs. The Yankees now had swept the last three World Series in which they had appeared, winning twelve consecutive games. Gehrig hit .529 with 3 home runs, a .600 on base average, and a 1.118 slugging average. Yes, Lou had cooled off since his 1928 World Series performance.
Still Good But Not As Great
The Senators won the pennant in 1933 and the Tigers won pennants in 1934 and 1935, but in 1936, the Yankees started a streak of four consecutive pennants and World Championships. The Giants, behind the rapidly becoming underrated Carl Hubbell won the first game, but the Yankees won four of the next five games. Gehrig hit .292 with 2 home runs, a .393 on base average, and a .583 slugging average. The following season the Yankees again beat the Giants, with Gehrig (.294, .455, .647) having another good Series, and in 1938, Lou played in his final World Series (.286, .375, .286) as the Yankees swept the Cubs again, but it wasn't the real Lou Gehrig. He was already suffering from the disease that would take his life.
Better Than Mickey, Joe, and Alex
Some fans today, and some media "experts" take the position that Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, or even Alex Rodriguez were as good or greater than Lou Gehrig. That is simply not the case.
References:
"Yanks Sign Gehrig, Columbia Slugger." New York Times. 12 June 1923, p. 16.
"Yanks Hold Browns Scoreless, 10-0." New York Times. 16 June 1923, p. 7.
