Wally Pipp

First baseman

Born: February 17, 1893
Chicago, Illinois

Died: January 11, 1965 (aged 71)
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Batted: Left

Threw: Left

MLB debut

June 29, 1913, for the Detroit Tigers

Last MLB appearance

September 30, 1928, for the Cincinnati Reds

MLB statistics

Batting average

.281

Home runs

Runs batted in

998

Teams

Career highlights and awards

World Series champion (1923)
2× AL home run leader (1916, 1917)

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

After appearing in 12 games for the Tigers in 1913 and playing in the minor leagues in 1914, he was purchased by the Yankees before the 1915 season. They made him their starting first baseman. He and Home Run Baker led an improved Yankee lineup that led the league in home runs. He 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 won the 1923 World Series. In 1925, he lost his starting role to Lou Gehrig, after which he finished his major league career with Cincinnati.

Pipp is considered to be one of the best power hitters of the dead ball era. Pipp is now best remembered as the man who lost his starting role to Lou Gehrig at the beginning of Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games. According to a popular legend, Pipp asked to sit due to a headache.

Walter Clement Pipp was born on February 17, 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, to Pauline (née Stroeber) and William H. Pipp. He was raised as a Roman Catholic, and different sources describe him as being of Irish or German ancestry. He was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a child, Pipp said that he was hit in the head with a hockey puck, which resulted in headaches throughout his life.

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Wikipedia