The streak begins

Lou Gehrig in 1925

Lou Gehrig pinch-hits for rookie Pee-Wee Wanninger 99 years ago today in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Senators at Yankee Stadium, beginning his streak of 2,130 consecutive games before playing his last game for the Yankees on April 30, 1939.

Gehrig’s streak starts in a non-descript way before a Monday afternoon crowd of 10,000 as he leads off the bottom of the eighth inning by hitting for Wanninger, facing the great Walter Johnson – really, who could blame the light-hitting Wanninger for not wanting to hit here – and flying out to left fielder Goose Goslin.

Gehrig, also a rookie in 1925 like Wanninger, starts the first game of his record streak – since broken in 1995 by Cal Ripken Jr. – the next game when he replaces the previously concussed Wally Pipp at first base for the Yankees.