gold star for USAHOF

2. Lou Gehrig

2. Lou Gehrig
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: June 19, 1903 in New York, NY USA
  • Weight: 200 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: June 15, 1923
  • Final Game: April 30, 1939
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1927
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1927
  • Most Valuable Player - 1927
  • TSN All-Star - 1927
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1928
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1928
  • TSN All-Star - 1928
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1930
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1931
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1931
  • TSN All-Star - 1931
  • TSN Guide MVP - 1931
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1934
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1934
  • Triple Crown - 1934
  • TSN All-Star - 1934
  • TSN Guide MVP - 1934
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1936
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1936
  • Most Valuable Player - 1936
  • TSN All-Star - 1936
  • TSN Guide MVP - 1936
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1937
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1937
  • TSN All-Star - 1937
  • MVP - 1925
  • MVP - 1926
  • MVP - 1927
  • MVP - 1931
  • MVP - 1932
  • MVP - 1933
  • MVP - 1934
  • MVP - 1935
  • MVP - 1936
  • MVP - 1937
  • MVP - 1938
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
16002377654429863990204 0.340
 
Considered by many baseball writers to be the finest First Baseman that ever lived, Lou Gehrig is also one of the most inspirational figures in sports history.

Known for his all-around play and durability, Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games, earning him the nickname of the “Iron Horse”.  These were not just games that he played in, but games where he excelled.  Gehrig hit for average, though while he only won one Batting Title, he had a career Batting Average of .340, and an even keener eye, winning five On Base Percentage Titles and is currently 5th all-time in that statistic.  Power-wise, he finished seven short of 500 Home Runs, a number he would have hit had he not been forced to retire early (we will get to that).  Ring-wise, Gehrig collected six, with a playoff Slash Line of .361/.483/.731 with 10 Home Runs.

The story of why Lou Gehrig had to retire at age 36 is well known as he was stricken with ALS, now known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  He would become the first baseball player to have his number retired and he was rushed into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, shortly after Gehrig would give the most iconic speech in sports history where he called himself “The Luckiest Man on the face of the Earth”.  He would die less than two years later.  The Yankees would also give him the ultimate honor, retiring his number #4, the first in franchise history.

Anyone who watched Gehrig play was among the luckiest ones on Earth.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: First Base
  • Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent 4/30/23.
  • Departed: Forced to retire after the 1939 season.
  • Games Played: 2164
  • Notable Statistics: 1,888 Runs Scored
    2,721 Hits
    534 Doubles
    163 Triples
    493 Home Runs
    1,995 Runs Batted In
    102 Stolen Bases
    .340/.447/.632 Slash Line
    114.1 bWAR

    34 Playoff Games
    30 Runs Scored
    43 Hits
    8 Doubles
    3 Triples
    10 Home Runs
    35 Runs Batted In
    0 Stolen Bases
    .361/.483/.731 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Champion (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937 & 1938)
    MVP (1927 & 1936)
    All-Star (1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 & 1939)
    Highest bWAR for Position Players (1934, 1935 & 1936)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (1927, 1934, 1935, 1936 & 1937)
    Highest Batting Average (1934)
    Highest On Base Percentage (1928, 1934, 1935, 1936 & 1937)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1934 & 1936)
    Highest OPS (1934, 1936 & 1937)
    Most Plate Appearances (1930 & 1931)
    Most Runs Scored (1931, 1933, 1935 & 1936)
    Most Hits (1931)
    Most Total Bases (1927, 1930, 1931 & 1934)
    Most Doubles (1927 & 1928)
    Most Triples (1926)
    Most Home Runs (1931, 1934 & 1936)
    Most Runs Batted In (1927, 1928, 1930, 1931 & 1934)
    Most Walks (1935, 1936 & 1937)
    Highest OPS+ (1934, 1936 & 1937)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1926, 1927, 1930 & 1931)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1927, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1936 & 1937)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1927, 1928, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936 & 1937)
    Most Putouts (1927 & 1928)
    Highest Putouts by a First Baseman (1927 & 1928)
    Most Assists by a First Baseman (1930)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a First Baseman (1938)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a First Baseman (1927)

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