Gus Suhr, the "Iron Man" of the National League, holds the league record for consecutive games played with 822. He started his professional ball-playing career in 1925, with San Francisco, of the Pacific Coast League, and in 1929 had 299 hits for a batting average of .381. It was on the strength of this batting record that he was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and has been their regular first baseman since 1930. He holds the National League record for participating in double plays, 150, in one season a feat which was accomplished in 1938. For his 9-year major-league record, Gus Suhr has had 1320 hits in 1302 games, for a batting average of .278.