New York Yankees Sign Lou Gehrig
By David Hill
On this day in 1923, the New York Yankees signed Lou Gehrig out of Columbia University, beginning a journey that would end with one of the greatest careers in baseball history.
Lou Gehrig’s exploits were legendary even before he signed with the New York Yankees. He made headlines with a grand slam that he hit out of Wrigley Field as a high schooler, before he headed to Columbia on a football scholarship. He attempted to play baseball professionally under another name, but was found out and banned from playing for Columbia for a year.
While his professional career was delayed, it would only be two more years before his time in the professional ranks would be able to take off. Gehrig continued to impress with his power and all around ability, belting a 450 foot home run against New York University with Yankees scout Paul Krichell in attendance.
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That was all that it took for Krichell to spring into action. On this day in 1923, Gehrig ended his college career, signing a contract with the Yankees for $2000, receiving a $1500 signing bonus. Although it was obvious that Gehrig had major league talent, the Yankees had first base occupied by Wally Pipp, leading to Gehrig spending much of the next two seasons with the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League.
We all know what happened a couple years later. Pipp, according to the legend, had a headache, leading to Gehrig being inserted in the lineup. While the truth is that manager Miller Huggins inserted Gehrig in the lineup due to the Yankees struggling, he did not leave the lineup again until 1939, when his career ended due to the disease that would eventually bear his name.
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The New York Yankees knew they were getting a talented first baseman when they signed Lou Gehrig. He certainly was worth that initial investment, becoming one of the best players that the Yankees, and baseball, would ever see.