Happy Birthday To The Iron Horse
 

Can hardly imagine the hype Gehrig would get today if he was playing. Not to single out one good player in particular, but Derek Jeter couldn't carry Lou's shoes. Ditto Cal Ripken. Ditto many other modern superstars. And career cut short by a terrible disease.


SUMMARY

Career
WAR
112.4

AB
8001

R
1888

H
2721

BA
.340

HR
493

RBI
1995

SB
102

OBP
.447

SLG
.632

OPS
1.080

OPS+
179

Not really meaningful to compare a first baseman to shortstops. Try comparing with Pujols who ranks very close in the sabremetric analyses I have seen. Nobody disputes Gehrig is an elite all time great, but what's the point of putting down Jeter and Ripken?

Well Ripken is always compared to him because of the streak by casual baseball fans.
Jerek only because modern day Yankees fan think (erroneously) that he is the upper echelon of all time Yankee superstars.

Casual fans and young fans are always going to overrate current players, and old fans are always going to be unduly nostalgic and overrate older players.

That is true. My dad claims Jackie Robinson had the most amazing career he ever saw. Historic and iconic of course but not greatest numbers of all time. Ditto Roberto Clemente (whose career was of course also tragically cut short).

At a Yankee Old Timers Game in 1973 as 9 year old I ran past Joe DiMaggio to get an autograph from Roy White. Just glad I got to meet DiMaggio in later years.

John D. - Your are my new hero! Roy was always a fine gentleman in spite of having to play in my hometown during the sixties and DiMaggio was a jerk EVERY time.

Lou in a western movie....

Lou looking a little blue. Happy Bday to one of my favorite players