Wally Pipp

Walter Clement Pipp Sr. (February 17, 1893 – January 11, 1965) was an American professional baseball player who played first base in Major League Baseball between 1913 and 1928. He appeared for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Cincinnati Reds.

After playing 12 games for the Tigers in 1913 and spending 1914 in the minor leagues, Pipp was purchased by the Yankees before the 1915 season and installed as their starting first baseman. Alongside Home Run Baker, he anchored an improved Yankee lineup that led the league in home runs. Pipp led the American League in home runs in 1916 and 1917. With Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel, Joe Dugan, and Waite Hoyt, the Yankees won three consecutive American League pennants from 1921 through 1923 and took the 1923 World Series. In 1925 he lost his starting role to Lou Gehrig and finished his major league career with Cincinnati.

Though regarded as one of the best power hitters of the dead ball era, Pipp is now best remembered as the man who lost his starting position as the Yankees' first baseman to Gehrig on June 2, 1925, after experiencing a headache. The change began Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games played, which stood as a Major League Baseball record.