Pipp was the first baseman for the Yanks in 1925 who,according to sports legend, had a headache from a beaning and was replaced in the lineup by Gehrig. Truth is, Pipp was not hitting and the Yankees knew what they had in Gehrig.
Gehrig went on to play more than 2,000 consecutive games for the Yankees, a record that lasted until 1995 when Cal Ripken eclipsed the iron man record in major league baseball.
I once saw Ripken play against the Red Sox in Fenway Park but that's another story.
Last night, Adrian Gonzalez went to the DL for the first time in his 14-year major league career. His replacement, rookie Cody Bellinger, hit two home runs as the Dodgers posted an 8-2 win over the Padres.
Gonzalez, 35, has been a force in the Dodgers' lineup since being acquired from Boston in mega-trade in 2012. Gonzalez has a lifetime batting average of .289 and 308 career home runs. He is coming off an "off" year in 2016 when he hit .285, knocked in 90 RBI and hit 18 dingers.
Hopefully, Gonzalez will come back from elbow and back injuries later this season and send Bellinger back to the outfield because I can't see him going back to Oklahoma City.
If Gonzalez is out for any duration, Bellinger is showing signs of being ready to take over at first base. The top prospect in the LA system has been impressive since making his first big league appearance on April 25. In 38 at-bats, Bellinger is hitting .342 with four home runs and nine RBI.
Bellinger was drafted by the Dodgers in the 2013 draft out of high school in Chandler, Arizona. He is the son of former major leaguer Clay Bellinger. At 6-4 and 210 lbs., Bellinger is long and lanky and runs well. He hits from the left side and has a power stroke.
Only time will tell if and when he will replace Gonzalez at first base. In the meantime, he is making it very difficult for Dave Roberts to keep him out of the lineup.
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