Lou gehrig facts

Lou Gehrig was the greatest first baseman ever and a key component in the Yankee legend. Born in a German neighborhood, Gehrig began his legendary career at Columbia University. Also a pitcher, he still holds the Columbia record for strikeouts in a game, fanning 17 Williams batters in a game he lost. By the way, although Gehrig did hit some prodigious shots at Columbia, he never hit one through a window in the athletic office in Low Library, as depicted in The Pride of the Yankees — nobody could.

Gehrig played two seasons with Hartford of the Eastern League and debuted in the majors four days short of his 20th birthday. He had brief but successful stints with the Yankees in and He started his famous streak on May 31, , pinch hitting for Pee Wee Wanninger. The next day, regular first baseman Wally Pipp sat out a game with a headache, and Gehrig started in his place.

The team was in seventh place at the time, and Babe Ruth was sick, so some experimentation was in order.

When did lou gehrig die

Gehrig had a good season, certainly, hitting. He finished behind Ruth with 47 HR, runs, a. Gehrig was overshadowed by Ruth for as long as Ruth was a Yankee.