Somehow, We Can’t See Gehrig Partying Like It Was 1,999

Imagine The Chase being over, Cal Ripken already holding the record for consecutive games played and being able to relax, and Lou Gehrig being No. 2.

It almost happened. According to a 1942 book by the late Paul Gallico, “Pride of the Yankees,” Gehrig’s agent, Christy Walsh, advised the Iron Horse to sit down after 1,999 appearances in a row, and the New York first baseman nearly agreed.

“As the 2,000th game approached, Walsh tried to persuade Gehrig to stay away from it and go fishing,” Gallico wrote. “He maintained--and it was a brilliant publicity stroke--that if Lou stopped at 1,999 games, it was a figure no one could forget.

“Whereas no one would remember how many games past 2,000 he played. And the story would make Page 1. The idea of course was to impart some Ruthian vermilion to the somewhat pastel shades of Gehrig.

“They sold Gehrig on it, too. Until the day came. And then he couldn’t go through with it. He couldn’t let the club down. He couldn’t disappoint the people who would come to see him play his 2,000th game. And besides, a pennant race was on. He had to play in every game.”

Add Chase: Ripken isn’t scheduled to get the record for about three more weeks--Sept. 6--but meaningless debate among outsiders has already started on whether Ripken should simply tie the mark of 2,130 and then take a day off, as if to salute Gehrig, or even leave the amazing record intact.

Don’t count on it.

“It would be pretty contradictory to put forth any sort of plan like that,” Ripken told the Baltimore Sun. “It would mean you’re playing for the purpose of the streak.”

Trivia time: An underclassman has been the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft in 1994 (Glenn Robinson), 1993 (Chris Webber) and 1992 (Shaquille O’Neal). But who was the last early-entry player before O’Neal to achieve that distinction?

Priorities: From Phil Jackman in the Baltimore Sun:

“Whew, that has to be a load off everyone’s mind, Monica Seles finally letting us know that she’s returning to the women’s tennis wars at the Canadian Open next week. This leaves us free to worry about the condition of Carl Lewis’ leg and its effect on his Olympic aspirations both next year and in the year 2000.”

Beats working: Fuzzy Zoeller was told earlier this year that his two-foot putt was a “gimme.”

After sinking the putt, he said: “If I ever start missing those, I’ll have to get a lunch pail and a real job.”

Not so grand: The men’s basketball team at Monmouth (Ill.) College won its 1,000th game in February. Impressive, yes?

Maybe.

It came 95 years and one week after Monmouth won its first game. It averages out to a little more than 10 victories per season.

Trivia answer: Hakeem Olajuwon, in 1984.

Quotebook: Billy Casper once said of the Senior PGA Tour: “Like a lot of fellows around here, I have a furniture problem. My chest has fallen into my drawers.”