Babe Dahlgren

Infobox MLB retired
name = Babe Dahlgren
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position = First Baseman
birthdate = birth date|1912|6|15
deathdate = death date and age|1996|9|4|1912|6|15
bats =Right
throws = Right
debutdate =April 16
debutyear =1935
debutteam =Boston Red Sox
finaldate =September 3
finalyear =1946
finalteam =St. Louis Browns
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value =.261
stat2label =Home runs
stat2value =82
stat3label =Runs batted in
stat3value =569
teams =
*Boston Red Sox (1935-1936)
*New York Yankees (1937-1940)
*Boston Braves (1941)
*Chicago Cubs (1941-1942)
*St. Louis Browns (1942)
*Brooklyn Dodgers (1942)
*Philadelphia Phillies (1943)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (1944-1945)
*St. Louis Browns (1946)
highlights =
*1939 World Series Championship
*1943 National League All-Star
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Ellsworth Tenney (Babe) Dahlgren (June 15, 1912, San Francisco, California - September 4, 1996, Arcadia, California) was a Major League Baseball infielder from 1935 to 1946 for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Dahlgren replaced Lou Gehrig in the line up on May 2, 1939, ending Gehrig's 14-year, 2,130 consecutive game streak.

In 1941, a rumor was circulated in Major League baseball that Dahlgren smoked marijuana. After discovering the existence of the rumor in 1943, Dahlgren became the first Major League Baseball player to take a drug test for a non-performance enhancing drug. He did so voluntarily to discredit the rumors circulating at the time. The test were all negative, clearing him of any wrongdoing. Dahlgren continued to play until 1946, a career spanning twelve years. Dahlgren spent decades trying to uncover the source of the rumor. ["Rumor in Town" by Matt Dahlgren]

A hypothesis as to who the perpetrator of the rumor was has been recently brought forth by his grandson, Matt Dahlgren, in his self published book, "Rumor in Town".

Also notable during this period, the Browns returned Dahlgren to the Cubs for a contract dispute once it is learned that he has become eligible for the draft in May 1942. [The New York Times, May 19, 1942] He is sold to the Dodgers soon after. In August 1942 he sought voluntary retirement. [The New York Times, August 23, 1942] In early 1943, Dahlgren is notified by the draft board to report for his physical, which occurs in mid-May of that year. [The New York Times, May 20, 1943] After passing his physical, Dahlgren is to be inducted into the military in July 1943. [The New York Times, May 27, 1943] In July 1943, he plays on the National League All-star team. In October 1943, Dahlgren is rejected for military service. [The New York Times, October 21, 1943]

Highlights

* Had a 621 consecutive game streak with the San Francisco Missions of the Pacific Coast League from 1931-1934
* Member of the 1934 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team
* Member of the 1936 International League All-Star Team as a member of the Syracuse Chiefs
* Member of the 1937 International League All-Star Team as a member of the Newark Bears
* Member of 1938-39 World Series Champions
* Hit the first home run of the 1939 World Series in game 2 off of Bucky Walters
* Named to 1943 National League All-Star Team
* Presided over the first American League pension plan meeting in 1946

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dahlgba01.shtml Babe Dahlgren career stats"]
* [http://www.babedahlgrenbio.com Rumorintown.com ] "Rumor in Town - A grandsons promise to right a wrong" by Matt Dahlgren
* [http://www.babedahlgren.com babedahlgren.com"] - Website maintained in loving memory by grandchild of Babe Dahlgren.
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/sports/baseball/18chass.html?_r=1&oref=slogin "Rumors of Drug Use Have Damaged for Decades,"] by Murray Chass, New York Times, November 18, 2007