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Wally Pipp I

 


The name "Wally Pipp" used to be famous among baseball fans. It was famous for decades. It became a coded way of saying "never call in sick!"

Pipp was the first baseman for the New York Yankees for a decade, 1915 to 1925. That's his picture above. Pipp lost his job in early June of the latter year, when he complained of a headache. The manager took him out of the line up, and put in a bench warmer to play first base for the day. 

That proved a disaster for Pipp and a big break for the erstwhile bench warmer: Lou Gehrig.

"Uh, Mr. Pipp, does it kinda make you wish he would get a terrible disease that needs a new name?" 

 Boo, Hiss. I'm evil.

I had actually planned to write something about the Renaissance again today and to explain what I see as the historic/aesthetic significance of the Bosch painting I have mentioned.  

But I'll leave further explication for next week. In the meantime, whatever your job is dear reader: Don't Call in Sick! 

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