The Yankees’ other Babe
Babe Dahlgren as a rookie in 1935 with the Boston Red Sox (Leslie Jones photo)
Today marks 29 years since the passing of Babe Dahlgren at the age of 84. Dahlgren spends all or parts of 12 seasons in the major leagues with eight teams from 1935-46.
He averages 12 homers and 81 runs batted in for every 162 games he plays.
Nice production.
He even represents the National League at the 1943 All-Star Game at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, the first nighttime All-Star Game.
Dahlgren’s career, though, is best remembered for a singular moment – and that moment comes on May 2, 1939, when he replaces Lou Gehrig at first base after Gehrig benches himself before the start of the New York Yankees’ game that day in Detroit.
Gehrig’s decision ends his record streak of consecutive games played at 2,130.
The 26-year-old Dahlgren does just fine in his first game at Gehrig’s replacement, going 2-for-5 with a double and homer in the Yankees’ 22-2 rout of the Tigers before a Tuesday afternoon crowd of 11,379 at Briggs Stadium.
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Lou Gehrig with Babe Dahlgren (12) on the day in 1939 when Dahlgren replaces him in the Yankees’ lineup.