lougehrig His #4 was the first number ever retired by Major League Baseball (Yankees, 1939): 2 wds First baseman who spent his entire 17-year Major League career with the New York Yankees: 2 wds Ballplayer nicknamed "The Iron Horse" Babe Ruth teammate Member of 23 Across Yankee who played a record 2,130 consecutive games Yankee great in the Hall of Fame