The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-11

Frank buck" o'Nein due to WeaGn'
er or other causes delay the
schedule of the Yankees, Gehrig
will round out his string OF 2.OOO
games in Cleveland. The chances
are, however, that Colonel Rup'
pert will insist that the celebra-
ton Of the feat be held an
Yankee Stadium.
Naturally, there are reasons
why such a course should be
followed. It was in Yankee
Stadium in 1925 Gehrig started
his great record. Another fac
tor, not to be overlooked, Gehrig
is a New York boy. He was
born on the lower East Side Of
New York in the teeming tene-
ment district. He'attended the
public schools of Manhattan
and the Bronx, was a great
athlete at High School Of Com.
merce, and upon being grad.
uated from high school, matric-
ulated at Columbia University.
Made the Grade
! Playing baseball at Columbia,
. Gehrig attracted the attention
of major league scouts, but the
Yankees had the inside track.
Gehrig is one of the few native
New Workers. to win a place on
one of three metropolitan teams.
Buddy Hassett made good with
Brooklyn, and frankie Frisch
played with the Giants.
It is a natural, then, for the
Yankees to toss a party in honor
of Larrupin' Lou. It is a natuarl
for Mayor Fiorello H. La
Guardia and other city officials
attend such a party. There is
little doubt that Postmaster
General James A. Farley would
set aside his official labors and
assist in honoring Lou in the
house that Ruth built by the
Harlem River. Jim Farley was
a first baSeman Of no mean
ability himself.
: President Clark c. Griffith is
all in favor of the American
League designating one day as
! "Gehrig" day and really making
something out Of it.
81 don't know what the
Yankees are planning" Griff
said, land I don't want to get
out Of line. But let me tell you
that no one who never played
ball knows what it means to
play 1000 consecutive games Of
ball.
No Companion
How many men are there
who have not missed a day Of
work in six years?" Griff asked.
"Well, there are about 800 work
ing days a year, and six times
300 Is 1900. AS it stands now,
Gehrig has played 1866 consecu-
tive games.
I'VE thought that Everett
SCOTS record never would be
equalled. He played 1908, if I
remember correctly. President
Ban johnson came to Washing
ton and we made a great fuss
over Scott. But Gehrig's record
is 50 much greater that there
is no comparison"
"Gehrig has the stamina of an
army mule" Bucky Harris said.
HE must have the greatest legs
In the world to take the bang
ing and pounding incidental to
playing first base every day In
the season. He had 1870 put
outs and "a assists.
HE had a lot of running and
stopping; quick starting and
sudden tanning on the brakes
in handling all those chances.
He made 200 hits and got 1877
bases on balls. That made 327
times at least that he was on
base. That called for running.
"You know, if the ordinary
man did all that running, he'd
be lucky not to come up with :.
sprained ankle or two in the
course Of a years work. The
answer is that nobody else ever
came close to LOUIS record"
Gehrig is certain to be elected
to the baseball hall Of fame at
Cooperstown, N. Y. when his
playing days are over. There is
no way Of keeping him out. One
Of the things the Yankees might
do is send the uniform Lou
wears on the occasion Of his
2000th consecutive game to the
baseball museum.