This Insane 11-Year Stretch of Dominance By Lou Gehrig Will Never Be Matched
There's just something incredible about putting up video-game numbers for an entire decade.
Although he played a large portion of his career in the shadow of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig found a way to become a legend in his own right. After all, someone had to protect the Sultan of Swat in the lineup, right?
If it wasn’t for his ALS diagnosis, who knows how much longer he could’ve played (and dominated). He retired in 1939, but just the year prior, he produced a .932 OPS with 29 home runs and 114 RBI.
Lou Gehrig’s Decade For The Ages
The consistent dominance Gehrig produced throughout his career was remarkable. From 1927-38, he hit at least 20 home runs with 100-plus RBI each year.
But if we look strictly at the 11 seasons between 1927 and 1937, he was in another stratosphere. This period consisted of 1,695 games and 7,707 plate appearances. Gehrig slashed .350/.459/.659 while averaging 39 home runs, 154 RBI, and 141 runs scored. He averaged that!
That’s how a ballplayer can get himself on the verge of 2,000 RBI in fewer than 20 years (he drove in 1,995 in 17 seasons).
Gehrig led the league in both homers and RBI on two different occasions. The first time was in 1931 when he slugged 46 dingers with a whopping 185 RBI. He collected 42 RBI through the end of May, but it’s what he did the rest of the way that’ll make your jaw drop. The first baseman posted four consecutive 30-plus RBI months to finish the year. His best was in July when he drove in 41 while slugging 11 dingers.
Accomplishments During This Stretch of Domination
As you can imagine, putting up huge numbers like this every year led to some personal accolades for the Iron Horse. Here are the categories he led the league in and how many times he finished the regular season at the top of the leaderboard.
Runs scored: 4 times
Hits: 1 times
Doubles: 2 times
Home runs: 3 times
RBI: 5 times
Walks: 3 times
Batting average: 1 time
On-base percentage: 4 times
Slugging percentage: 2 times
Total bases: 4 times
Gehrig won two MVP Awards during this stretch (1927 and 1936). He also finished no lower than fifth in voting for eight straight years between 1930 and 1937.
Single-Season HR Performances | Career HR Performances | Postseason HR Leaders | HR Derby Performances
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Great stuff Matt! these stats make my eyes pop! And Triple Crown in 1934! As you mentioned if he didn't get sick he could of played much longer and definintely could have dominated much longer. 493 career home runs but if he played 5 more solid years i think he could have gotten to 600. As we know in that era 40 HR's was a rarity yet he had 5-40 HR seasons two being 49 and one with 46 and one with 47 in 1927. The fact that Gehrig had 47 and Ruth had 60 in 1927 is just unreal. 1927 Yankees are hands down the best team ever especially because they won 110 games in 154 games. and Ruth and Gehrig obviously are the best 1,2 punch ever. there's no argument. Also, The Iron Horse and Hank Greenberg are the only guys that ever came very close to challenging Hack Wilson's record. A record I believe will never be broken. The Iron Horse was the best! and I love the movie with Gary Cooper Pride of the Yankees! Good job Matt! Great info!!