Books and articles about Wally Pipp

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When the Yankees won three straight pennants in 1921-23, Pipp was their solid, sure-handed first baseman. When they again won three in a row in 1926-28, he read about it in the Cincinnati Enquirer. In 1925, his eleventh Yankee year, he had asked for a day off because of a headache. A beaning in practice a few days later prolonged his hiatus. By the time he was fit, Lou Gehrig owned his position (for 2,130 consecutive games). Pipp, a good hitter with three .300 seasons and six 90-plus RBI years, was shunted to the Reds and obscurity. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » January 7, 1915: The Tigers waive Wally Pipp to the New York Yankees. Pipp hit .161 in 12 games, but he'll anchor first base in New York for a decade. » February 4, 1915: The Yankees purchase Wally Pipp and OF Hugh High from the Detroit Tigers for a reported $5,000 each. Historian Lyle Spatz (Yankees Coming, Yankees Going) writes that this was the first of some promised funneling of ball players to the recently-sold Yankee franchise. » April 24, 1922: It takes 11 innings, but Carl Mays and the Yankees edge the Athletics, 6–4. It is Mays' 18th consecutive win against the A's. A 2-run homer by Wally Pipp off Joe Harris decides the game. » May 20, 1922: Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel (and since-traded pitcher Bill Piercy), suspended on October 16, 1921, by Judge Landis, are reinstated and return to the New York lineup going hitless in New York's 8–2 loss to the rallying Browns at the Polo Grounds. The Browns, down 2–0 after 7, score one in the 8th and seven in the 9th, six of them coming after the game-ending out is called by ump Ollie Chill at first base. Pitcher Sam Jones, taking the throw at 1B from Wally Pipp, apparently makes the 3rd out and fans swarm the field. But Jones does not hold onto the ball cleanly and plate ump Brick Owens instructs Chill to make a safe call. The tying run scores on the play and, when the action resumes 15 minutes later, Wally Gerber singles to make the score 3–2. Walks to Sisler and Williams force home another run, and Baby Doll Jacobson clears the bases with a grand slam into the RF stands to complete the scoring. Winner Urban Shocker allows just three hits, including a two-run homer by second baseman Aaron Ward. The loss to Jones starts him on a 10-game losing streak, while a cold Ban Johnson will let umpire Ollie Chill go after the season. » July 26, 1922: In several pregame fights between Yankees teammates, Bob Meusel and Wally Schang duke it out in the dugout. Then Babe Ruth and Wally Pipp take a turn. The players then turn on the Browns, beating them 11–6. Ruth bangs two homers, Pipp adds another, and Schang chips in with a two-run triple. » September 8, 1922: The Yankees go back on top, this time to stay, beating the Senators, 8–1, behind Carl Mays. while the Browns lose to Detroit, 8–3. New York's win is triggered by Wally Pipp's 6th inning 3-run homer of Walter Johnson, the 2nd homer Wally has dinged off the Senator's ace in nine days. » May 14, 1923: Paced by Wally Pipp's grand slam, the Yankees score eight runs in the 12th against the Tigers, to put the game away. Detroit comes back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to set an American League mark (later tied) for most runs in that frame. » June 1, 1925: Lou Gehrig begins a consecutive-game streak that will surpass Everett Scott's mark by pinch-hitting for Paul Wanninger, the SS who replaced Scott in the Yankees lineup. The next day, 1B Wally Pipp shows up with a headache, and Gehrig takes over. Babe Ruth plays his first game of the season following his illness. » February 1, 1926: Wally Pipp, 33, has lost his Yankee 1B job to Lou Gehrig after 101/2 years; the Reds buy him for $7,500. Pipp had been the Opening Day first baseman for the past 11 seasons. » May 2, 1961: In their first appearance in Minnesota, the Yankees top the transplanted Washington team, 6–4. Mickey Mantle's grand slam in the 10th inning off Camilo Pascual, is the big blow. Luis Arroyo picks up the save after the Twins score 2. Mick's extra inning grand slam is the 6th by a Yankee, joining Wally Pipp (1923), Babe Ruth (1925), Bob Meusel (1929), and Joe DiMaggio and Tommy Henrich (1948).