Poor Wally Pipp
On June 2, 1925, as folklore would have it, the
New York Yankees longtime regular first baseman
Wally Pipp got a headache, couldn't play, and was
replaced by someone named Lou Gehrig. Gehrig didn't
relinquish the position for 14 years (and only because
of a life-ending illness). In truth however, Pipp
wasn't playing well through the early part of the
year and manager Miller Huggins gave Gehrig a shot
at playing first base. It was actually a month later,
in July of 1925, that poor Pipp was hit on the head
with a ball and did develop a lingering headache.
Over the years the story morphed into the 'headache/getting
replaced by Gehrig' story.
With no need for the usually solid-playing Pipp
(he hit .295 the year before and led the league
in triples), the Yankees sold him to the Cincinnati
Reds for $20,000. This is the transfer agreement
between the Yankees and the Reds that dealt Wally
away. Soon thereafter, the phrase "To be
Wally Pipped," entered the American vernacular
as meaning to be replaced for good.
click to enlarge |
| The legend of Wally Pipp
started right here with this telegram, which
mentions his signing to the Yankees in February
1915. Wally played 11 years with the Yanks
until a guy named Gehrig came along. |
|
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