Starting the streak

Lou Gehrig in 1925

Lou Gehrig pinch-hits for rookie Pee-Wee Wanninger 100 years ago today in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Senators at Yankee Stadium, beginning his streak of 2,130 consecutive games before playing his last game for the Yankees on April 30, 1939.

Pee-Wee Wanninger

Gehrig’s streak starts in a non-descript way before a Monday afternoon crowd of 10,000 as he hits for Wanninger with one out in the bottom of eighth inning and, for his efforts, gets to face the great Walter Johnson.

Really, who could blame the light-hitting Wanninger for not wanting to hit here against a future Hall of Famer in Johnson.

Gehrig ends up his lone at-bat in this game by flying out to left fielder Goose Goslin, who like Gehrig also ends up in the Hall of Fame.

Gehrig, also a rookie in 1925 like Wanninger, starts the first game of his record streak – since broken in 1995 by Cal Ripken Jr. – the next game when he replaces the previously concussed Wally Pipp at first base for the Yankees.