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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 7 · APRIL 13, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #007 · GOLDEN AGE
Lou Gehrig — 2,130
Consecutive Games And The
Farewell Speech
On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig told 62,000 fans he was 'the luckiest man on the face of the earth.' He died
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL two years later.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
THE MOST DURABLE PLAYER IN BASEBALL HISTORY GOT THE CRUELEST DIAGNOSIS IN SPORTS HISTORY.
2,130 Consecutive Games. .340 Career Average. ALS
At 35.
LOU GEHRIG CAL RIPKEN JR. EVERETT SCOTT
STEVE GARVEY MIGUEL TEJADA GEHRIG OPS+
Gehrig played 2,130 consecutive games across 14 seasons — a record that stood 56 years until Cal
Ripken broke it in 1995. He hit .340 with 493 HR and 1,995 RBI. Diagnosed with ALS at 35, he gave the
most famous speech in baseball history and died two years later.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Philadelphia Athletics JUNE 3, 1932
4
5 5 16 W 20–13
HR AB RBI TOTAL BASES RESULT
Four In One Game
FOUR HOME RUNS — AND DIDN'T MAKE THE FRONT PAGE
Gehrig hit four home runs against Philadelphia on June 3, 1932. He didn't make the front page — John
McGraw announced his Giants resignation that same day, which was bigger New York news. Gehrig hit four
home runs in a game and was buried in the sports section. The Iron Horse was perpetually overshadowed.
ERA VS ERA 03
Gehrig vs Ruth — Who Was The Better Yankee?
LOU GEHRIG · 1923–1939 BABE RUTH · 1920–1934
CAREER OPS+ CAREER OPS+
CAREER RBI VS CAREER HR (AS YANKEE)
CAREER WAR CAREER WAR
Ruth's OPS+ of 188 is the highest in baseball history. Gehrig's 179 is third. The argument for Gehrig: more
consistent, more durable, better positional comparison at first base. The honest answer: Gehrig was the
second-best player on a team with the best player who ever lived.
Who was the better Yankee?
BABE RUTH LOU GEHRIG MICKEY MANTLE DEREK JETER
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
JULY 4, 1939 · YANKEE STADIUM FAREWELL
'Today I Consider Myself The Luckiest Man On The
Face Of The Earth.'
With ALS already destroying his body, Gehrig stood before 62,000 fans and called himself the
luckiest man alive. He thanked teammates, opponents, groundskeepers, his parents. He never
said ALS by name. He cried once, briefly. The speech was 277 words and took two minutes. It is
the most famous speech in sports history.
Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
— LOU GEHRIG, JULY 4, 1939
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER BATTING AVERAGE CAREER RBI
.340 1,995
Remembered for power. He was one of Second all-time behind Hank Aaron.
the best contact hitters of his generation. Gehrig was more efficient per game.
CAREER HOME RUNS CAREER OPS+
Played in Ruth's shadow for 11 years and Third-highest in history, behind Ruth (188)
still hit 493. and Williams (190).
2 YEARS FROM FAREWELL SPEECH TO DEATH
Gave the speech July 1939. Died June 1941. ALS took him in less than two years.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Wally Pipp
NEW YORK YANKEES · 1913–1928
.281 CAREER BA · 2X AL HR CHAMP BEFORE RUTH
He Sat Out One Day In 1925. Gehrig Replaced Him. He Never Got His Job Back.
Wally Pipp was the Yankees starter at first when Gehrig replaced him in 1925. Manager Huggins had been
looking for a reason to play the 21-year-old. Pipp was traded to Cincinnati. 'Taking a Wally Pipp' entered the
language as shorthand for losing your job by missing one day. He had two AL home run titles before Ruth
redefined the position.
THE CONNECTION:
Pipp was a good first baseman who had the misfortune of being replaced by the greatest first
baseman who ever lived. His career deserved more than a cautionary tale.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941 — the last time anyone hit .400. He played both games when he
could have sat.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.