When Gehrig Played Game 2,000
Fewer Than 7,000 Fans Attended That Day
After returning to the fold following his hold out, which cost him 12 games, Joe DiMaggio started the 1938 season on a tear. At the end of play on May 7, Joe had hit safely in each of the 7 games he played and was batting .500. His modest hitting streak ended on May 12 in a 3-2 loss to Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians. A few days later, the Yankees visited Cleveland, and before 62.244 fans at Municipal Stadium, Joe and Frank Crosetti were honored by an Italian group before the game, receiving wristwatches.
Lou Gehrig Was Forced to Leave in the Sixth Inning
The Yankees lost 8-3, as DiMaggio went hitless, but of greater significance, Lou Gehrig, who was only 8 short of having played in 2,000 consecutive games, had to leave in the sixth inning due to a recurring bad back. The Yankees and Indians were off the next day, and when the brief two game series resumed, Gehrig was back in the lineup. On May 31, against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Gehrig played in his 2,000 game before 6,917 fans.
Fewer Than 7,000 Fans Saw Gehrig's Streak Reach 2,000 Games
Compare the attendance and publicity on that day to the game in which Gehrig’s record was eclipsed. Fewer than 7,000 fans attended the game in which Lou Gehrig played his 2,000 consecutive game. On September 6, 1995, Joe DiMaggio and both the president and vice president of the United States were among the 46,272 fans at Camden Yards to see Gehrig’s record of 2,130 games surpassed.
The Strike Almost Ends the Attempt to Break the Record
The attempt to overtake the record was almost thwarted when major league players were forced to strike on August 12, 1994. The players were concerned about the streak. Mark Belanger, former Orioles shortstop and an official of the players’ union, recounted that “A number of players asked that question before the strike came about. ‘What are we going to do about that?’”
Angelos v. Ruppert
The issue was resolved by Orioles’ owner Peter Angelos, who refused to go along with the proposal that replacement players be used. Angelos refused to field a replacement team and would have forfeited the entire season if replacement players had to be employed. When Lou Gehrig ended his hold out, he did so in part because he realized Yankees’ owner Jacob Ruppert was willing to allow Lou’s streak to end.
The Tribe Sweeps
At the end of May, the Yankees were in second place, 3 games behind the Indians. They were in a real struggle. On June 21, they visited the Indians for a three game set. The Indians won all three games. Joe got two hits in the first game as the Tribe won, 10-5. The next day was a twin bill. The Yankees scored 1 run in each game as they were swept, 3-1 and 7-1 before a crowd of 67,459 fans, dropping the Yankees to third place, 4 ½ games behind the Indians and a game behind the Red Sox. DiMaggio managed a pair of hits in the opener but went hitless in 4 at bats in the nightcap. A week later, Joe was again chosen the for American League all-star team.
References:
Chass, Murray. “Orioles’ Ripken Goes to Work; 2,131 and Steps Into History Books.” New York Times. 7 September 1995, p. B19.
Dawson, James P. “41,070 at Stadium; Yanks Top Tigers, 12-8; DiMaggio Has .500 Average.” New York Times. 8 May 1938, p. 75.
Dawson, James P. “62,44 See Indians Triumph, 8-3, to Keep Yanks From League Lead; Gehrig in 1,992 Game, and Feller Forced Out by Back Ailments.” New York Times. 23 May 1938, p. 22.
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