Lewis Everett "Deacon" Scott was an American professional baseball player who played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball from 1914 through 1926. Over his twelve-season career, Scott played for several franchises, most notably the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, serving as the team captain for both of these historic rivals. He also had brief stints with the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Cincinnati Reds.
Scott was highly regarded for his defensive prowess, leading American League shortstops in fielding percentage for seven consecutive seasons from 1916 to 1922. However, his most enduring legacy is his remarkable durability. Between June 20, 1916, and May 5, 1925, Scott appeared in 1,307 consecutive games, establishing a major league record that stood until it was surpassed by Lou Gehrig. This streak remains one of the longest in baseball history.
After retiring from his baseball career, which included a lifetime batting average of .249, 20 home runs, and 551 runs batted in, Scott transitioned to professional bowling and operated bowling alleys. He passed away in 1960 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was later posthumously inducted into both the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame and the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
