New York Yankees All-Time 25-Man Roster
By Jason Evans
First Base – Lou Gehrig
It’s hard when someone who is arguably the greatest of all time at their position is overshadowed during his playing career, but that’s what happens when you become a teammate of Babe Ruth.
Gehrig was inserted into the lineup for Wally Pipp on June 2nd 1925. Gehrig wouldn’t relinquish that starting role for the next 2,130 games.
Gehrig was a two time MVP, and would finish in the Top 10 in MVP voting seven times. He would lead the American League in runs four times, hits an triples once, doubles twice, homers three times, RBI five times and average once.
On the Yankee All-time list he is second in WAR, second in average, OBP, hits, doubles and slugging, third in games, runs and homers and first in triples and RBI.
“The Iron Horse” would make the first seven All-Star teams, though his last honor would be more of a career achievement. Gehrig took himself out of the lineup on May 2nd 1939 and he wouldn’t play again. He was diagnosed with ALS, what we also know now as Lou Gehrig’s disease and would pass away in 1941 at the age of just 37 years old.