Basic Facts & Figures About
Lou Gehrig's
Record Streak and Cal's Pursuit of It
-
On August 17, 1933, New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig played in his
1,308th straight game to surpass Everett Scott's major league record for
consecutive games played. The Iron Horse went on to play in 2,130 straight
games before the crippling effects of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
ended his once-thought impossible streak. Just over two years later, ALS
ended his life.
-
Gehrig is tied with Ripken for the major league record for most years leading
the league in games (7).
-
Gehrig holds the major league record for most home runs by a first baseman
(493). Ripken holds the record for most home runs by a shortstop (324).
-
Gehrig's longest streak at first base was 885 straight games. He played left
field for one game in 1930 while Babe Ruth pitched, and he played right field
for one game in 1931 while Ruth played first base.
-
Gehrig played every inning of every game one time in his career (1931). Ripken
holds what is believed to be the major league record with a streak of 8,243
straight innings, spanning 904 games from 1982 to 1987. The 82 post-season
innings Cal played in 1983 are not included in these figures.
-
Gehrig missed just two starts during his streak, both in the first year:
1925 (July 5, the 33rd game of the streak and July 19, the 48th game). Both
times, Fred Merkle, renowned for a miscue with the Cubs two decades earlier,
was the Yankees' starter at first base. Gehrig started the last 2082 games
of his streak.
-
Gehrig came out early 69 times during his streak. Ripken has exited early
66 times during his streak. Twice during his streak, Gehrig was ailing and
listed as the shortstop in the lead-off position. Both times, he singled
and was immediately replaced by a pinch runner.
-
In the last 100 games of his streak, Gehrig batted .287 (106-369) with 67
runs, 15 doubles, four triples, 16 homers and 82 RBI. In his last 25 games,
Gehrig batted .350 (36-103) with 23 runs, eight doubles, three triples, eight
homers and 34 RBI.
Gehrig's Line During His
Streak
(June 1, 1925 to April 30, 1939)
G AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO TB
2,130 .340 7938 1879 2700 529 162 492 1984 1503 779 5029
Source: Bob Davids, SABR
Selected Records of Lou
Gehrig
-
Most consecutive years scoring 100 runs (13, tied with Hank Aaron)
-
First player in modern era to hit four homers in game (6/3/32, consecutive)
-
Most career grand slams (23)
-
Most consecutive years with 100 RBI's (13, tied with Jimmie Foxx)
-
Most years with 150 RBI's (7)
-
Most RBI's in season (184), AL Record, 155 games in 1931
-
Most years with 400 or more total bases (5)
Cal Ripken's Keystone
Partners:
Orioles Second Basemen since 7-1-82
(30 Players through October 1, 1995)
Rich Dauer Bob Bonner Lenn Sakata John Lowenstein
Todd Cruz Vic Rodriguez John Shelby Alan Wiggins
Kelly Paris Juan Bonilla Jackie Gutierrez Rex Hudler
Ricky Jones Rick Burleson Rene Gonzales Bill Ripken
Pete Stanicek Ron Washington Rick Schu Tim Hulett
Juan Bell Marty Brown Jeff McKnight Shane Turner
Mark McLemore Steve Scarsone Harold Reynolds Brett Barberie
Manny Alexander Jeff Huson
Early Exits: Has exited early 58 times during the streak:
1982...1 1989....4 1992...9 1995...8
1987...2 1990...11 1993...8
1988...2 1991...15 1994...6
Twice by Ejection: The earliest Cal has left were the two games from
which he was ejected- both in the first inning: September 25, 1987 by Tim
Welke (vs Yankees) and August 7, 1989 by Drew Coble (vs Minnesota)...In both
cases he was thrown out after arguing a strike call.
Longest O's Streaks: The three longest Orioles streaks before Cal's
were:
Brooks Robinson 463
Eddie Murray 444
Billy Gardner 361
Every Game of the Year: Cal is one of five Orioles to have played
every game in a season.
Cal Ripken 13 Times 1983 thru 1995
Brooks Robinson 4 Times 1961, 1962, 1964, 1968
Eddie Murray 4 Times 1978, 1979, 1984, 1988
Billy Gardner Once 1957
Bobby Grich Once 1973
Consecutive Innings Streak, 1982-1987: His streak of 8,243 straight
innings (spanning 904 games, 1982-1987) is believed to be the longest of
its kind in major league history. The 82 post-season innings he played in
1983 are NOT included in these figures. Lou Gehrig, incidentally, played
every inning of every game only one season (1931) during his streak.
The start: Cal's innings streak began June 5, 1982 (6 days and five
games after the start of his consecutive games string May 30) at Minnesota
The day before (June 4), Jim Dwyer had pinch-hit for him in the ninth inning,
also at Minnesota.
The finish: The innings streak ended September 14, 1987 in Toronto
when Orioles manager Cal Ripken Sr. inserted Ron Washington at shortstop
in the bottom of the eighth of an 18-3 Toronto walkover. That was the game
in which the Blue Jays hit a major league record 10 home runs.
Say the historians: Noted baseball researcher L. Robert Davids determined
some years ago that the previous leaders in the consecutive innings category
were a couple of former Red Sox who played in the Hub City during the early
1900s: Buck Freeman and Candy LaChance...Freeman, a first baseman, played
every inning over some 534 games (7/28/01-6/5/05) and outfielder LaChance
did not miss an inning over a span of 424 games (5/23/02 to 4/28/05).
Rip, whose innings streak covered some five seasons, was the first to have
played every inning for at least two straight years since Rudy York with
the Tigers in 1940-1941...In addition to Cal & Freeman, only one other
major leaguer has played every inning at least three years (not necessarily
consecutive), Mickey Vernon in 1942, 1947, and 1953 with those pesky Nats...The
only other Oriole to play every inning in one season was Eddie Murray in
1984 (including 3 games as DH).
Close Calls
April 10, 1985...Game 444...Sprained left ankle at shortstop during a pickoff play in the
third inning vs. Texas (did not come out of the game)...X-rays taken after the game at
Greater Baltimore Medical Center were negative...Didn’t play the next day in the club’s
exhibition game at the US Naval Academy, but was in the lineup the next night vs.
Toronto. September 11, 1992...Game 1713...Suffered a twisted right ankle running out
a double against the Brewers (did not come out of the game), and as a precaution the
Orioles recalled shortstop Manny Alexander from AAA Rochester...Cal didn’t miss so
much as an inning for another week. June 6, 1993...Game 1790...Suffered a twisted
right knee when his spikes caught in the infield grass during O’s-Mariners
melee...Though he didn’t come out of the game, the knee was swollen and painful the
next day...Still, he didn’t even miss infield practice...He said later, ”It was the closest
I’ve come to not playing.” (6/4). August 2, 1997...Game 2423...Considered leaving the
game in the bottom of the 1st at Oakland with lower back pain when Athletics' Scott
Brosius led off the inning with a single on a swinging bunt roller...He remained in the
game and singled in his next at-bat and homered the next day as the back steadily
improved.
All-time Leader: Cal hit 345 of his 353 homers as a shortstop, most
in major league history ahead of Ernie Banks (277) and Vern Stephens (213).
Passed Banks July 15, 1993 at Oriole Park when he homered off Minnesota's
Scott Erickson. Banks' mark had stood since he moved to first base from shortstop
in 1962. The seat in left field where the ball landed is now painted orange
to commemorate the achievement.
30 Homers: Is one of four shortstops in major league history to have
hit 30 or more homers in a season, joining Ernie Banks, Vern Stephens and
Rico Petrocelli.
Honus Wagner and Joe Cronin's Neighborhood: 745 of his 764 extra-base
hits have come as a shortstop, the second highest total in baseball history,
as near as we can tell. Honus Wagner had 737 in the years he was primarily
a shortstop (1901, 1903-1916 with Pittsburgh), and Joe Cronin had 765 (20
more than Cal) in the years he was primarily a shortstop, (1928-1941 with
Washington and Boston). A precise statistical breakout is not available,
however.
Recalling 1991: His ML-high 85 extra-base hits in 1991 have been exceeded
by only one other shortstop in history, Robin Yount with 87 in 1982...Cal's
368 total bases were the most in one season by an AL shortstop and second
best all-time behind Banks' 379 in 1958...Also became the second shortstop
ever (joining Banks in 1958 and 1959) to hit .300+ with 30+ homers and 100+
RBI.
|
