Player Profiles
Look for Babe Ruth Memorabilia:Barnes & Noble | Amazon.com | eBay.com |
Babe Ruth
|
|
Babe Ruth from the Chronology
Dec 22, 2006 - The Yankees bring back free agent P Andy Pettitte signing him to a one-year contract. Pettitte has never had a losing or .500 season; only Babe Ruth can match that among pitchers with 10 or more seasons.
Sep 26, 2006 - Astros P Andy Pettitte allows 10 hits but just three runs in 6 2/3 innings as Houston beats Pittsburgh, 7-4. The win pushes Pettitte’s record to 14-13: he has never had a losing or even .500 season, the only pitcher with at least 10 seasons other than Babe Ruth who has done that.
Sep 24, 2006 - In the Red Sox 13-4 loss to host Toronto, David Ortiz ties the AL single season record with 32 homers on the road (Babe Ruth, 1927). It is Big Papi’s #53 on the year. The Blue Jays get three RBI each from Alexis Rios, Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay.
Aug 29, 2006 - The Braves overcome a pair of homers by Barry Bonds and outscore the Giants, 13-8. For Barry they are homers #726 and #727 and he passes Sammy Sosa with his 69th career multi homer game. Babe Ruth has 72.
May 28, 2006 - The Rockies defeat the Giants, 6-3, and Barry Bonds hits his 715th HR in the 4th inning to move past Babe Ruth into 2nd place on the all-time career list.
May 20, 2006 - The Giants defeat the Athletics, 4-2 in 10 innings. Barry Bonds hits career homerun number 714 in the 2nd inning to tie Babe Ruth for 2nd place on the all-time list.
Apr 25, 2006 - The Mets top the Giants, 5–1, as Barry Bonds hits #710. He is now four homers behind Ruth.
Apr 14, 2006 - Kevin Millwood of the Rangers tops Barry Zito of the A's as both go 7 innings in the 6-3 Texas win. Frank Thomas of the A's hits his 200th HR as a DH to join Babe Ruth and Ernie Banks as the only big-leaguers to hit 200 or more homers at two different positions. Ruth hit 357 as a right fielder and 313 as a left fielder, Banks hit 210 as a first baseman and 277 as a shortstop. Thomas hit 249 as a first baseman.
Mar 31, 2006 - The ball that Babe Ruth hit for his last HR at Yankee Stadium is sold for $86,250 at auction. The ball was hit in an exhibition game off Walter Johnson on August 23, 1942.
Jun 10, 2005 - The 1919 contract that sent Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees brings a staggering $996‚000 at auction.
Nov 6, 2004 - At an auction in Louisville‚ a Louisville Slugger bat signed by ``Shoeless'' Joe Jackson sells for $137‚500. Cracked on the handle and worn on the barrel‚ the bat‚ made in 1910 or 1911‚ has Jackson's signature along the hitting area in bold ink. The bat is the featured piece among 412 items sold. The Louisville Slugger Museum planned to use the funds raised by the auction to pursue other pieces of baseball memorabilia. Also‚ a bat used by Ty Cobb goes for $132‚000‚ a record for a Cobb bat. The bat's value was enhanced by grease-penciled writing on the barrel. The markings were made by a Hillerich & Bradsby receiving agent working at the factory during Cobb's era. They indicate that Cobb probably used the bat‚ then had it sent back to Louisville to have more made exactly like it. A Cleveland Indians jersey worn by Satchel Paige sells for $110‚000. A letter handwritten by Babe Ruth‚ with six of his signatures at the bottom‚ and its original envelope went for $41‚800. A baseball signed by Ruth and Lou Gehrig went for $31‚900.
Jan 13, 2004 - After going 21-10 for the New York Yankees in 2003, Andy Pettitte is announced as the winner of the Warren Spahn Award‚ presented annually to the top left-handed pitcher in the majors. Pettitte will move to the Houston Astros as a free agent and win just 6 games in 2004‚ but notch his 10th straight winning season out of 10; Babe Ruth is the only other pitcher who has pitched at least 10 seasons without incurring a losing record in any of them.
Aug 31, 2003 - The Rangers edge the Twins‚ 11-10‚ as Alex Rodriguez becomes just the 2nd player in ML history with 6 straight seasons of 40 or more HRs. Babe Ruth is the only other player to accomplish the feat.
Aug 9, 2002 - Barry Bonds hits the 600th HR of his career‚ but the Giants still fall to the Pirates by a score of 4-3. Bonds joins Hank Aaron‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Willie Mays (his godfather) in the exclusive club.
May 17, 2002 - After the Twins score 3 times in the top of the 14th‚ the Yankees come back to win‚ 13-12‚ on Jason Giambi's one-out grand slam‚ hitting the first pitch from reliever Mike Trombley over the RF fence. It is the 21st time in history that a player has hit a game-winning grand slam-the ultimate grand slam-with his team down by three runs. Babe Ruth‚ in 1925‚ was the only previous Yankee to have performed the feat. Giambi's HR is one of 6 by New York as each team has 20 hits. The last time that 2 teams reached 20 hits was also on May 17-1996. Baltimore beat Seattle‚ 13-12 on 41 hits total.
Oct 7, 2001 - The Giants beat the Dodgers‚ 2-1‚ as Barry Bonds extends his ML record with his 73rd HR of the season. He will finish the year with a slugging percentage of .863 to break Babe Ruth's all-time single-season record. Bonds will have 411 total bases‚ 3rd in the NL behind Gonzalez and Sosa. He also is the only player besides Kevin Maas to have more than 20 homers and not double his home run total in RBI. (Maas had 21 HR‚ 41 RBI‚ in 1991)
Sep 23, 2001 - The Giants rout the Padres‚ 11-2‚ as Barry Bonds hits his 65th and 66th HRs of the season. The homers give Bonds a ML record 34 road round-trippers. He also breaks Babe Ruth's ML mark for most HRs over 2 seasons by a lefthanded batter (115).
Aug 28, 2001 - Thanks to Cubs miscues‚ the Marlins defeat the Cubs‚ 4-3‚ in 14 innings‚ despite Sammy Sosa's 52nd HR. The blast gives Sosa a share of the NL record for HRs in August (17)‚ tying the mark set by Willie Mays in 1965. He also ties Babe Ruth for the most homers in 7 consecutive seasons: the Babe hit 343 between 1926-32. Mark McGwire has hit 338 homers from 1995 through this year. Cliff Floyd‚ playing RF‚ pulls off an unassisted double play in the 10th inning with Cubs on 1B and 3B and no outs. LF Delino DeShields drops Dave Berg's fly to open the 14th and he will come around to score on a hit.
Aug 26, 2001 - The Cubs defeat the Cardinals‚ 6-1‚ as Sammy Sosa hits 2 more HRs‚ his 50th and 51st of the season. In doing so‚ he joins Mark McGwire and Babe Ruth as the only players with four 50-homer seasons.
Apr 25, 2001 - Rickey Henderson's 9th-inning walk from Philadelphia's Jose Mesa is the 2‚063rd of his career and breaks Babe Ruth's all-time record. The Phillies defeat the Padres‚ 5-3.
Jul 15, 2000 - A 1909 Honus Wagner baseball club is auctioned for a record $1.1 million on eBay. Other high priced items in the auction include a baseball autographed by the entire 1919 Chicago ``Black Sox" team‚ including Shoeless Joe Jackson‚ as well as the umpires who worked the final game of the 1919 World Series sells for $93‚666‚ including a 15 percent buyer's premium. A ball signed by the 1919 Reds goes for $11‚208‚ while a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth sells for $76‚020. A contract from Shoeless Joe Jackson's sale of his Chicago pool hall to teammate `Lefty'' Williams‚ sells for $36‚098. The contract‚ dated Oct. 6‚ 1921‚ is for just $1.
May 23, 2000 - The Orioles defeat the Mariners‚ 4-2. Seattle's Rickey Henderson draws his 2‚000th career walk in the 9th inning‚ making him the 3rd player to reach that level‚ behind Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.
Dec 10, 1999 - Babe Ruth is voted Player of the Century by an Associated Press panel. Willie Mays comes in second.
Jun 28, 1999 - Hack Wilson ups his RBI total for the 1930 season to 191. 69 years after the season‚ an RBI is added by the commissioner's office‚ which also gives Babe Ruth six additional walks‚ raising his career-record total to 2‚062. ``There is no doubt that Hack Wilson's RBI total should be 191‚'' commissioner Bud Selig said. ``I am sensitive to the historical significance that accompanies the correction of such a prestigious record‚ especially after so many years have passed‚ but it is important to get it right.'' The missing RBI came from the 2nd game of a doubleheader between Wilson's Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds on July 28‚ 1930 where Charlie Grimm was credited with 2 RBIs in the game and Wilson with none. Ruth's walks total is now 2‚062. Ted Williams is second‚ trailing by 43‚ and Rickey Henderson of the New York Mets is third‚ 134 behind Ruth.
Feb 18, 1999 - The U.S. Postal Service issues a Jackie Robinson stamp as part of their "Celebrate the Century" program. Robinson was selected to represent the 40's‚ the 2nd ball player chosen. Babe Ruth‚ last May‚ represented the 1920s.
Nov 13, 1998 - The Babe hits new heights today: $126‚500. That is the price paid for the ball he hit in 1923 for the first home run in Yankee Stadium. Mark Scala found the Ruth ball two years ago in the attic of his grandmother's house. The bid was $110‚000 and the total price includes the auction house's 15 percent commission. Two year ago‚ the ball Eddie Murray hit for his 500th home run was sold for what one day could be $500‚000. Michael Lasky‚ the founder of the Psychic Friends Network‚ paid $280‚000 that was put in an annuity to be paid over 20 years. With interest‚ the annuity will be worth about $500‚000‚ according to a spokesman for Lasky‚ who also operates as syndicated handicapper Mike Warren. The previous record for an auctioned baseball was $93‚500 for the ball that went through Bill Buckner's legs in the 1986 World Series. That ball was bought by actor Charlie Sheen in 1992. Other auctioned items include: the bat Pete Rose used for his 4‚191st hit‚ which tied Ty Cobb's career record‚ was sold by an unidentified Rose associate for $21‚096; an autographed ball from President Franklin Roosevelt that he used to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the 1941 season opener at Griffith Stadium sold for $17‚255‚ and a personal check signed Henry Louis Gehrig sold for $15‚306.
Sep 1, 1998 - Mark McGwire hits his 56th and 57th HRs of the season‚ in a 7-1 Cardinals' win over Florida‚ to break Hack Wilson's NL standard for HRs in a season. McGwire also eclipses Babe Ruth's record of 114 HRs in consecutive seasons set in 1927-28.
Aug 31, 1998 - Oakland OF Rickey Henderson scores the 2‚000th run of his career in the Athletics' 15-6 loss to Cleveland. He joins Ty Cobb‚ Hank Aaron‚ Babe Ruth‚ Pete Rose‚ and Willie Mays as the only players to reach the milestone.
Aug 10, 1998 - Chicago WS OF Albert Belle drives in his 100th run of the season in a 5-3 win over Oakland. He joins Jimmie Foxx‚ Lou Gehrig‚ and Babe Ruth as the only players to record at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in 7 consecutive seasons.
Sep 14, 1997 - Mark McGwire notches his 51st homer‚ and St. Louis Cardinals score seven runs in the eighth to win‚ 10-4. McGwire‚ the first player with consecutive 50-homer seasons since Babe Ruth in 1927-28‚ connects off Joey Hamilton (11-6) in the sixth. He has 17 homers in 37 games since St. Louis acquired him from Oakland on July 31 and has 14 games remaining to chase Roger Maris' season record of 61.
Jun 28, 1997 - Yankees' P David Wells starts the game against Cleveland wearing Babe Ruth's autographed cap from the 1934 season. Manager Joe Torre makes him take it off after the 1st inning since it doesn't conform to the team's current uniform. Without the cap‚ Wells blows a 3-0 lead as the Indians go on to a 12-8 victory. The Indians mount a 19-hit attack‚ as CF Marquis Grissom accounts for 5 of the hits‚ while 3B Matt Williams gets 4 hits‚ including a pair of homers‚ and drives home 6 runs.
Aug 25, 1996 - The Yankees dedicate their 1st new monument in 47 years‚ to Mickey Mantle‚ in Monument Park in center field at Yankee Stadium. Miller Huggins‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Lou Gehrig are also honored with monuments‚ while 15 men are honored on plaques.
Aug 6, 1996 - Darryl Strawberry strokes 3 HRs off Kevin Tapani in the Yankees 9-2 victory over the White Sox. In doing so‚ he becomes just the 8th player to hit 3 in a game in both leagues. The others to do it were Babe Ruth‚ Johnny Mize‚ Dave Kingman‚ Cory Snyder‚ Darnell Coles‚ Claudell Washington‚ and Larry Parrish.
Sep 30, 1995 - Cleveland OF Albert Belle socks his 50th HR of the season in the Indians' 3-2 win over the Royals. The HR is Belle's 17th of September‚ tying Babe Ruth's record for the month. Beginning September 13‚ Belle has hit 13 homers in 16 games (he did not play 9/24)‚ tying Frank Howard's mark set in May‚ 1968. With today's homer‚ Belle becomes the first player ever to have 50 homer and 50 doubles in a season.
Jul 31, 1994 - The Giants beat the Rockies‚ 9-4‚ as 3B Matt Williams hits his 39th and 40th HRs of the year. This gives him a new NL mark for homers through July. The previous standard was 36. The all-time record of 41 was set by Babe Ruth in 1928‚ and tied by Jimmie Foxx 4 years later.
Jun 22, 1994 - OF Ken Griffey Jr. leads the Mariners to a 12-3 win over the Angels by stroking his 31st HR of the season. In doing so‚ Griffey breaks Babe Ruth's record for most HRs before the end of June‚ set by the Babe in 1926 and 1930.
Jun 17, 1994 - Seattle defeats KC‚ 5-1‚ as Ken Griffey Jr. socks his 30th HR of the season. In doing so‚ he joins Babe Ruth as the only players to have hit 30 homers before June 30. Ruth did so in both 1928 and 1930.
Aug 14, 1991 - San Diego's Fred McGriff hits a grand slam for the 2nd game in a row‚ tying a major league mark. He is the 12th player-but just the 3rd National Leaguer-to perform the feat‚ with Babe Ruth the only one to do so twice. His blast brings home all San Diego's runs in a 4-1 win over the Astros.
Dec 25, 1989 - Billy Martin‚ former infielder and 5-time manager of the Yankees‚ dies in a car accident in Johnson City‚ New York at the age of 61. Martin will be buried in Gates of Heaven cemetery in Valhalla‚ New York in a plot near Babe Ruth's. George Steinbrenner‚ who fired Martin 4 times (he resigned the 5th time) purchases the plot.
Sep 24, 1978 - Ron Guidry (23-3) gains his 3rd 2-hit shutout of the month‚ 4-0 over the Indians. The two Indian hits are by Duane Kuiper‚ the 2nd time this year that he has recorded the only hits in a game. The Yankees ace also two-hit the Red Sox on September 9 (7-0) and 15 (4-0). It is Guidry's 9th shut out of the year‚ a Yankee record‚ and ties the AL record for southpaws set by Boston lefty Babe Ruth in 1916. The Red Sox stay one game in back of New York by topping Toronto 7-6.
Aug 14, 1977 - Yaz leads the Red Sox to an 11-1 pasting of Seattle by collecting his 506th career double. This moves Yaz past Babe Ruth on the all time list. Boston has now defeated Seattle 10 straight times.
|
|
Jul 19, 1977 - While pursuing Hank Aaron's HR record‚ Sadaharu Oh breaks one held by Babe Ruth when he draws his 2‚057th base on balls.
Oct 11, 1976 - In the last of the 8th‚ leading the Hanshin Tigers 4-1 with 2 out and a full count‚ Sadaharu Oh socks his 715th HR to pass Babe Ruth's mark. The on deck batter is Davey Johnson‚ who was on deck when Aaron socked his 715th. Oh will finish the season with 716 HRs and takes aim at Hank Aaron's record.
May 1, 1975 - Hank Aaron goes 4-for-4‚ driving in 2 runs in the Brewers 17-3 win over Detroit. This brings his career RBI total to 2‚211‚ breaking Babe Ruth's published record of 2‚209. His third inning single off Vern Ruhle drives in Lezcano with his 2‚210th RBI. On February 3‚ 1976‚ the Records Committee will revise Ruth's total to 2‚204; so‚ in actuality‚ Aaron set the record on April 18‚ 1975.
Apr 27, 1975 - In the first of two games‚ Hank Aaron hits a left field double off Dick Tidrow of the Yankees‚ tying Babe Ruth's career RBI record (later revised) of 2‚209. The Brewers win 7-0. Aaron has no ribbies in game 2‚ as the Yankees win 10-1.
Oct 12, 1974 - Sadaharu Oh draws his 166th walk in a 130-game season‚ setting a Japanese record. At his retirement in 1980‚ Oh will hold the all-time world record for walks‚ 2‚504‚ topping Babe Ruth's record of 2‚056.
May 30, 1974 - Sadaharu Oh becomes the first player in Japanese baseball to hit 600 HRs. Only Babe Ruth‚ Hank Aaron‚ and Willie Mays are ahead of Oh-and he will surpass them all.
Mar 11, 1974 - With Hank Aaron needing only one HR to tie Babe Ruth's career record (714)‚ Atlanta plans to save the event for a home audience by benching him on the road. Commissioner Kuhn plans otherwise‚ ordering the Braves to start Aaron in at least 2 of the team's 3 season-opening games in Cincinnati.
Sep 22, 1969 - Willie Mays joins Babe Ruth in the 600-homer club with a blast off Mike Corkins‚ while batting for rookie George Foster. Bobby Bonds sets a ML record with his 176th strikeout‚ as San Francisco beats San Diego 4-2.
Jul 21, 1969 - A gala All-Star Game banquet in Washington is one of baseball's great events. An all-time team and all-time living team is announced. Babe Ruth is selected Greatest All-Time Player‚ and Joe DiMaggio‚ Greatest Living Player.
May 5, 1969 - The Baseball Records Committee reverses its earlier decision and decides to stay with the pre-1920 rules on sudden death home runs. This rule stated that a team batting last in the 9th or in extra innings could not win by more than one run. Before 1920 if a player hit an outside-the-park home run with a runner(s) on base‚ he was not credited with a home run. Babe Ruth (July 8‚ 1918) and 36 other players "lost" HRs because of the ruling reversal.
Apr 26, 1969 - The Baseball Records Committee says Babe Ruth should be credited with 715 HRs‚ because a hit on July 8‚ 1918 recognized as a triple should have been ruled a HR. The recommendation is ignored.
Dec 8, 1966 - Five years after breaking Babe Ruth's record‚ the New York Yankees trade OF Roger Maris to the Cardinals for journeyman 3B Charlie Smith. In 2 days‚ the Yanks send Pedro Ramos to the Phils for P Joe Verbanic.
Jul 23, 1966 - At Yankee Stadium‚ the Yanks celebrate Old-timers' Day but lose to the Angels‚ 7-6‚ despite a grand slam from Mickey Mantle. The slam‚ off Marcelino Lopez‚ is Mickey's 9th. He ties Babe Ruth-not in home runs‚ but in games played as a Yankee.
Jun 29, 1966 - At Fenway Park‚ Mantle opens the scoring in the first inning with a 3-run shot‚ then sandwiches a homer between round trippers by Bobby Richardson and Joe Pepitone in the 3rd inning in New York's 6-5 win. The consecutive trifecta was last done for the Yankees in 1947‚ when Keller‚ DiMaggio‚ and Lindell connected. Richardson is 5-for-5 in the game. Mantle's two homers today‚ his 37th and 38th at Fenway‚ will be his last in Boston‚ and ties him with Babe Ruth for most homers by a Sox opponent.
Aug 20, 1965 - Eddie Mathews hits his 28th HR as the Braves win 4-3 at Pittsburgh. The duo of Mathews and Hank Aaron‚ 1954-65‚ becomes the top HR tandem in ML history‚ passing the Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig total of 772 HRs while playing together.
Aug 29, 1964 - On Elston Howard Night‚ the Yankees take 2 from Boston 10-2 and 6-1. Joe Pepitone's 3 HRs‚ including a grand slam‚ and Roger Maris's 6 singles lead the offense. Mickey Mantle hits HR number 447 in the opener and ties Babe Ruth's career strikeout record (1‚330) in the nightcap.
May 8, 1963 - A Stan Musial HR against the Dodgers gives him 1‚357 extra-base hits‚ surpassing Babe Ruth's ML record. He will get 20 more and permanent possession of 2nd place lifetime. The Cards lose 11-5.
Apr 27, 1963 - At Washington‚ Dan Pfister pitches the Kansas City Athletics to a 7-3 win over the Senators. The Nats treat Pfister's batterymate‚ Billy Bryan‚ like Babe Ruth‚ intentionally walking him 3 times‚ tying a ML record. Bryan hit .158 and .149 the past 2 seasons‚ and will improve to .169 this year.
Oct 8, 1961 - Five more scoreless innings by Whitey Ford and 4 by Jim Coates silence the Reds. Hector Lopez and Clete Boyer each drive in 2 runs for a 7-0 win. Ford breaks Babe Ruth's WS record of 292?3 consecutive scoreless innings‚ running his streak to 32.
Oct 1, 1961 - Roger Maris' torturous‚ season-long race against Babe Ruth ends in a dramatic at bat against Boston's Tracy Stallard. Maris' classic lefthanded swing sends home run number 61 into the RF stands in "The House That Ruth Built." (Sal Durante‚ one of 23‚154 fans in attendance‚ grabs the historic HR ball which he sells for $5‚000). New York's 1-0 win gives the Yanks 109 wins‚ one short of the club's 1927 record. It is New York's ML record 240th homer of the year.
Jul 19, 1961 - Ford Frick‚ an old friend of Babe Ruth's‚ announces that should Ruth's record be beaten after 154 games‚ the record will carry an asterisk. When asked about the ruling‚ Maris replies‚ "A season is a season."
Jul 17, 1961 - Commissioner Ford Frick decrees that Babe Ruth's record of 60 HRs in a 154-game schedule in 1927 "cannot be broken unless some batter hits 61 or more within his club's first 154 games."
Jun 23, 1961 - At home‚ the Cards win 10-5 over the Giants. With 2 HRs‚ Stan Musial passes Lou Gehrig on the all-time list for extra-bases hits. Babe Ruth remains first.
Jul 29, 1958 - Ted Williams hits his 17th career grand slam‚ tying him for 2nd place with Babe Ruth‚ and behind Lou Gehrig‚ who had 23. Williams also added a 3-run HR‚ as Boston beats Detroit 11-8.
Apr 30, 1953 - The Little-Bigger League changes its name to the Babe Ruth League.
Aug 10, 1952 - The Red Sox cut the Yankee lead in the A.L. to 1 1/2 games with a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. Dick Gernert and Dom Dimaggio hit 10th inning homers off reliever Johnny Sain‚ and 41-year-old Al Benton picks up the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief. Benton comes in Mel Parnell with one out in the 9th and the sacks full and stops the threat. Mantle‚ leading off the 10th‚ is retired on drag bunt attempt by Benton‚ who is the only hurler to pitch to both Mantle and Babe Ruth.
Sep 25, 1949 - Despite 71 injuries that kept players out of games‚ Casey Stengel and his Yankees have been in first place all season. But today the Red Sox (93-55) move into a tie for first place with a 4-1 victory over Allie Reynolds. Ted Williams hits his 43rd HR‚ and Mel Parnell allows just 4 hits in winning his 25th game of the season. The lefty is 16-3 at Fenway this year‚ while the Red Sox have won their last 21 games at home. Joe DiMaggio listens to the game from a hospital‚ bedridden with pneumonia. The Yankees return to New York and are greeted at Grand Central Station by a huge crowd of fans‚ including Mrs. Babe Ruth‚ who predicts‚ "Whoever wins tomorrow should go all the way."
Apr 19, 1949 - At pregame ceremonies marking the season opener with the Senators in Yankee Stadium‚ a granite monument to Babe Ruth‚ who died on August 16‚ 1948‚ is unveiled in center field. Plaques honoring Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins are also presented. Mrs. Babe Ruth‚ Mayor William O'Dwyer‚ Governor Thomas E. Dewey‚ and the current team from St. Mary's Industrial School in Baltimore are at the game. Gary Simpson‚ the St. Mary's captain‚ throws out the first ball. The Yanks‚ who went just 13-14-1 in spring training‚ tie it at 2-2 in the 7th on Berra's 2-out pinch single. New York wins 3-2‚ when Tommie Henrich‚ hits a dramatic 9th inning two-out HR off starter Sid Hudson. Henrich will hit another HR in tomorrow's 3-0 win. Ed Lopat gives up 8 hits-three by Gil Coan-in going the distance for New York. Gene Woodling‚ the PCL's leading hitter in 1948 with a .385 average‚ plays CF in place of the injured Joe DiMaggio.
Aug 16, 1948 - Babe Ruth dies of throat cancer at age 53 in New York. His body will be put on display at Yankee Stadium and be viewed by more than 100‚000 fans.
Jul 26, 1948 - Ruth makes his last public appearance‚ at the New York premiere of the film The Babe Ruth Story. He will die 3 weeks later.
Jun 13, 1948 - The Yankees retire Babe Ruth's No. 3 jersey in the Babe's final appearance at Yankee Stadium on the 25th anniversary of Yankee Stadium. A Silver Anniversary crowd of 49‚641 cheers as Mel Allen introduces the Babe. After the ceremonies and a two inning game between Old-timers in which the team of 1923 defeats a team of all-stars from later years‚ 2-0‚ the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-3. Joe DiMaggio belts two triples and Rizzuto and Berra add homers to back Lopat's pitching. Lopat is now 13-3 lifetime versus the Tribe.
Jun 5, 1948 - Appearing at Yale Field just ten weeks before his death‚ Babe Ruth presents a copy of his biography to Yale first baseman and captain George Bush.
Apr 23, 1948 - On the 25th anniversary of the opening of Yankee Stadium‚ the Red Sox spoil the ceremonies by stopping New York‚ 4-0. A sick Babe Ruth cheers on the Yanks from the dugout.
Apr 27, 1947 - Today is Babe Ruth Day at all ML parks. A crowd of 58‚339 at Yankee Stadium honors the ailing slugger‚ A frail Babe‚ choking back tears‚ tells the "kids of America" that‚ "the only real game in the world is baseball. In this game you have to come up from youth. You've got to start way down at the bottom‚ if you're going to be successful like those boys over there." pointing to the Yankee dugout. "There's so many lovely things said about me‚ I'm glad I had the opportunity to thank everybody." The program was broadcast nationwide and piped into all the ball parks. Ruth receives a bronze plaque with his image on it from the AL: the NL's gift is a leather book with signatures of all the players in the league. The Yankees lose to Sid Hudson and the Washington Senators 1-0‚ but move into first place as the White Sox lose two. Hudson scores the only run after singling.
Aug 1, 1945 - Mel Ott hits the 500th HR of his career‚ a total exceeded only by Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx. He will hit 10 more this season and one on Opening Day of 1946 to finish with 511. Ott leads the Giants to a 9-2 win over the Braves at the Polo Grounds.
Aug 4, 1944 - In Philadelphia‚ 29‚166 ignore a transit strike and jam Shibe Park to help Connie Mack celebrate his 50th anniversary as manager of the A's. Even the Yankees 1-0 win doesn't diminish the enthusiasm of the evening. Mack receives a check for $5‚000 as well as other gifts. On hand are members of Connie Mack's All Time All Star team‚ each of whom he called to the center of the diamond. These include George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Frank Baker‚ Honus Wagner‚ Lt. Bill Dickey‚ Lefty Grove (introduced by Mack as "Groves")‚ Walter Johnson‚ Tris Speaker‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Al Simmons. Ty Cobb and Lt. Commander Mickey Cochrane‚ two members of Mack's club‚ did not appear. In the pre-game Abbott and Costello dressed in uniforms of the A's and Yankees respectively‚ take batting practice. The Yankees score on a fumble in the 9th to beat Bob Newsom. Hank Borowy wins his 14th.
Jul 28, 1943 - In a charity game for the Red Cross at Yankee Stadium‚ Babe Ruth heads a team of former Yankees against Ted Williams' team‚ which consists of the University of North Carolina Cloudbusters. Johnny Sain walks the Babe in his one plate appearance‚ as the old time Yanks lose‚ 8-5.
Jul 12, 1943 - In Boston‚ a team of Armed Forces all-stars managed by Babe Ruth and featuring Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams plays the Braves in a fund-raising effort. Ruth pinch-hits in the 7th and flies out to right. The all-stars win 9-8 on a Williams HR.
Aug 23, 1942 - Walter Johnson pitching to Babe Ruth is the pregame attraction that draws 69‚000 for the New York-Washington game at Yankee Stadium that provides $80‚000 for Army-Navy relief. Ruth hits the fifth pitch into the right-field stands‚ and then adds one more shot before circling the bases. Sixteen relief games contribute $523‚000 during the season. In the doubleheader between the Senators and the Yankees‚ the Senators win the opener‚ 7-6 and New York cops the nitecap‚ 3-0‚ in 5 1/2 innings.
Apr 2, 1942 - Publisher A.J. Spink‚ in TSN‚ reports on the result of a poll of 100 former major leaguers and managers as to who their choice is as best player of all time. Ty Cobb is the overwhelming pick‚ getting 60 of the votes cast. The remaining 42 votes are divided among 14 players: Honus Wagner (17): Babe Ruth (11); and Rogers Hornsby and Ross Youngs (2 votes each). The following players each received one vote: Lou Gehrig‚ Ed Delahanty‚ Tris Speaker‚ Joe DiMaggio‚ Mel Ott‚ George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Christy Mathewson‚ Walter Johnson‚ and Jerry Denny. Among those who reveal they voted for Cobb are Speaker‚ Collins‚ Sisler‚ Johnson‚ Al Simmons‚ Connie Mack‚ and Jack Coombs.
|
|
Jun 25, 1941 - In Newton‚ Mass. 700 fans pay $1 each to watch Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth play golf. Cobb wins 3-2‚ but Ruth will beat him in 2 days. A third match will be played later this summer.
Aug 24, 1940 - At Fenway‚ LF Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox pitches the last 2 innings in a 12-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers and Tommy Bridges. Williams allows 3 hits and one run scores when 3B Charlie Gelbert juggles a DP grounder. On 3 pitches Williams strikes out Tiger slugger Rudy York‚ who had driven in 5 Detroit runs. Joe Glenn‚ who caught Babe Ruth's last pitching appearance in 1933‚ is Williams' catcher. Pitcher Jim Bagby plays the OF for the Sox.
Jun 12, 1939 - The greatest gathering of members and future inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame assembles in Cooperstown‚ NY‚ for the dedication of the museum. A 6-inning game at Doubleday Field showcases lineups studded with players who will be elected in the future. Honus Wagner's lineup defeats Eddie Collins' squad‚ 4-2. Babe Ruth‚ Ty Cobb‚ Honus Wagner‚ Walter Johnson‚ Grover Alexander‚ Nap Lajoie‚ George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Tris Speaker‚ Cy Young‚ and Connie Mack accept their plaques. Cobb‚ angry at Commissioner Landis‚ shows up after the ceremony and photo taking to accept his plaque. Other inductees‚ all deceased‚ include Cap Anson‚ Charles Comiskey‚ Candy Cummings‚ Buck Ewing‚ Hoss Radbourn‚ Al Spalding and Wee Willie Keeler.
Sep 10, 1938 - Jimmie Foxx of the Red Sox hits 2 HRs in a game for the 9th time this season‚ breaking a record held by Babe Ruth and Hack Wilson. Lynn Nelson of the A's serves up the homers in a 15-7 win at Fenway. The Sox have just a makeup game at Fenway left with all their remaining games on the road. Foxx has now hit 35 homers at home‚ the most ever hit at Fenway.
Jul 30, 1938 - In the Tigers 9-2 win over the A's‚ Greenberg hits his 9th HR in a week‚ tying the mark set by Babe Ruth in 1930. Greenberg started the week with a grand slam on the 24th.
Jul 19, 1938 - Prior to the Giants 7-6 win in St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth tops all competitors in a hitting competition with a drive of 430 feet‚ the ball landing in the second car tracks of Grand Avenue. Medwick is second with a clout of 425 feet over the left field barrier into Sullivan Avenue. Ruth receives $50 and Medwick $25. The US Army measures the drives.
Jun 18, 1938 - Babe Ruth is signed as a Dodgers coach for the rest of the season. He is in uniform for batting demonstrations the following day.
Jun 15, 1938 - Johnny Vander Meer stuns baseball by pitching his 2nd successive no-hitter‚ defeating the Dodgers and Max Butcher‚ 6-0. Brooklyn plays the first night game ever at Ebbets Field. In front of 38‚748 fans‚ including spectators Babe Ruth and several hundred fans from Vandy's home town of Midland Park‚ NJ. Vandy strikes out 7 and walks 8‚ including three one-out walks in the 9th. A force out at home on a grounder by Ernie Koy and a ?y ball by Leo Durocher ends the game. In a pregame event‚ Koy‚ with a 10-yard start but running in his Reds' uniform‚ beats Olympic champion Jesse Owens in the 100-yard dash.
Sep 23, 1937 - The Yankees lose 9-5 to the Browns but clinch the pennant when the Red Sox beat Detroit. Lou Gehrig's 1st inning RBI is his 150th of the year. Gehrig has now driven in 150 or more runs‚ 7 times to set a new ML mark. Babe Ruth did it 6 times.
Aug 31, 1937 - Detroit's rookie Rudy York sets a new record for HRs in a month‚ hitting his 17th and 18th to eclipse Babe Ruth's mark set in September 1927. He adds two singles in driving in 7 runs against Pete Appleton‚ as Detroit beats Washington 12-3. Roxie Lawson wins his 17th. York ends up with 44 RBIs for the month.
May 31, 1937 - A Memorial Day crowd of 61‚756‚ the 2nd-largest crowd in Polo Grounds history‚ sees the Dodgers end Carl Hubbell's consecutive-game winning streak at 24 over 2 seasons. Babe Phelps leads the way‚ going 5-for-6‚ as Brooklyn routs King Carl in the 4th inning and wins 10-3. Although Hubbell loses the first game of the doubleheader‚ he is honored in between games when Babe Ruth makes the presentation of the NL's 1936 MVP Award. The Giants take the nitecap‚ 5-4.
Dec 8, 1936 - Babe Ruth turns down an offer to manage the Albany farm team.
Dec 3, 1936 - The Dodgers "sell" Frenchy Bordagaray‚ Dutch Leonard‚ and Jimmy Jordan to the Cardinals. The exchange is understood to be a continuation of the September 7 transaction‚ which brought the Dodgers Tom Winsett‚ dubbed by Branch Rickey as the "next Babe Ruth‚" and Eddie Morgan from the Cards' AA farm team.
Apr 5, 1936 - In Fayettville‚ NC‚ 5000 turn out to see Babe Ruth and the Braves defeat NC State‚ 6-2. All balls hit in to the crowd are kept as souvenirs and by the time the last ball is hit into the crowd 12 dozen balls have been used up.
Feb 2, 1936 - The baseball writers vote for the first players to be named to the new Baseball Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb‚ Babe Ruth‚ Honus Wagner‚ Christy Mathewson‚ and Walter Johnson each receive the requisite 75 percent of ballots cast. Active players also are eligible in this first election‚ with Hornsby finishing 9th‚ Cochrane 10th‚ Gehrig 15th‚ and Foxx 19th. Tainted former star Hal Chase receives 11 votes for 25th place‚ and Joe Jackson has 2 votes to tie for 36th place.
Sep 29, 1935 - At New York's Dykeman Oval‚ a doubleheader between a team of all-stars featuring Babe Ruth and the Cuban Giants attracts a crowd of 10‚000. Ruth is 1-for-4 with a walk as the Giants‚ behind Luis Tiant Sr.‚ win 6-1. With Ruth on the bench‚ the nightcap ends after 6 innings with the Giants leading 14-6.
Sep 4, 1935 - Babe Ruth receives a lifetime pass for all National League games from NL prexy Ford Frick.
Jun 2, 1935 - Babe Ruth announces his retirement as a player at age 40.
May 30, 1935 - Babe Ruth plays only the first inning of the opener of a doubleheader between Boston and Philadelphia at Baker Bowl‚ going 0-for-1. It is his final ML appearance. The Phils win 11-6 and 9-3.
May 28, 1935 - The Reds run their winning streak to 6 games‚ their longest in 4 years‚ beating Boston‚ 13-4. Babe Ruth is 0-for-3‚ scoring a run‚ but stumbles twice and injures his leg running and is replaced in LF by Lee.
May 26, 1935 - In Cincinnati‚ Babe Ruth K's three times and makes an easy out in his 4th at bat on "Babe Ruth Day" as his Braves lose 6-3 to the Reds. Syl Johnson is the winning pitcher. Tomorrow‚ the Babe will walk as a pinch hitter in the 9th as the Reds win‚ 9-5.
May 25, 1935 - Babe Ruth has a last hurrah‚ hitting 3 home runs at Pittsburgh. The first shot is hit off Red Lucas‚ while the last two homers come off veteran Guy Bush. The final one‚ the last of his 714 career HRs‚ is the first to clear the RF grandstand at Forbes Field and is measured at 600 feet. With that‚ Ruth sits down in the dugout-Pittsburgh's-next to rookie Mace Brown. Ruth‚ who hit 3 homers in a game just once in the AL (May 21‚ 1930)‚ is the first player to turn this hat trick in both leagues. Ruth lifts himself in the 7th inning‚ finishing the day at 4-for-4 and 6 RBIs. But Ruth's old teammate Waite Hoyt‚ in relief of Bush‚ is the winner as Pittsburgh defeats the hapless Braves‚ 11-7.
May 21, 1935 - With Babe Ruth leading the way with a home run‚ the Braves beat the Cubs‚ 4-1. Fred Frankhouse is the winner over Tex Carleton.
May 5, 1935 - Thirty thousand fans are on hand in Boston to watch two superstars face each other-the Cardinals with young Dizzy Dean on the mound against the Braves with 40-year-old Babe Ruth. Diz walks Ruth his first 2 times up‚ then with 2 strikes on the Bambino‚ Dean‚ with a big grin on his face‚ waves his outfielders back and pipes a fast ball down the middle that Ruth misses. Dean wins the game‚ 7-0‚ and in his first at bat‚ homers over Ruth's head in right. Dean will face Ruth again on the 19th‚ holding the Babe hitless again‚ and win that game as well.
Apr 21, 1935 - Babe Ruth homers in the first inning off Dodgers P Ray Benge‚ but it is all the scoring for the Braves as they lose‚ 8-1. For the Babe‚ it is his 710th HR.
Apr 19, 1935 - On Patriot's Day‚ Brooklyn beats the Braves by 4-2 scores. Watty Clark is the winning pitcher in game 1 and adds 2 RBI. Danny Taylor hits a grand slam in game 2 and Johnny Babich strikes out Babe Ruth 3 times.
Apr 16, 1935 - Babe Ruth's NL debut draws the largest Opening Day crowd‚ 25‚000‚ in Braves' history. The Babe's 2-hit‚ debut includes a 430-foot HR and 3 RBIs off Carl Hubbell‚ as Boston beats New York 4-2. Ruth adds the game's fielding play with a shoestring catch. Boston will win just 37 more games this year.
Mar 20, 1935 - At St. Petersburg‚ the Cards set a spring training record‚ drawing 6‚467 in a match against the Boston Braves. The big draw is Babe Ruth‚ who hits a towering fly against Dizzy Dean‚ then‚ after Diz departs‚ laces two doubles into the overflowing crowd. The Cards win‚ 5-4.
Feb 26, 1935 - Babe Ruth is released by the Yankees to sign with the Boston Braves for $20‚000 and a share in the team's profits.
Nov 20, 1934 - Seventeen-year-old Eiji Sawamura gives up one hit‚ a HR to Lou Gehrig‚ as the touring American all-stars win in Japan 1-0. At one point Sawamura strikes out 4 in a row-Charlie Gehringer‚ Babe Ruth‚ Jimmie Foxx‚ and Gehrig. The all-stars easily win the other 15 games against high school and post-college players. College players in Japan are prohibited from playing against foreigners.
Oct 21, 1934 - An all-star team led by Babe Ruth and Connie Mack sails on tour to Hawaii and Japan. Players with wives include Lou Gehrig‚ Jimmie Foxx‚ Charlie Gehringer‚ Lefty Gomez‚ Earl Averill‚ and Lefty O'Doul.
Sep 30, 1934 - The Senators top the visiting Yankees 5-3 in Babe Ruth's last game in pinstripes. Preceding the game‚ a band from St. Mary's Industrial School‚ the Babe's alma mater‚ plays. Ruth is 0-for-3 in this‚ his 2‚084th and final game as a Yankee. He flies out to CF in his last at bat and leaves crying. Senators pitcher Orville Armbrust toils 7 innings in recording his only major league win‚ 5-3. Gehrig is 3-for-4 to sew up the Triple Crown.
Sep 29, 1934 - In game 1‚ Babe Ruth hits his last AL HR‚ as New York splits a doubleheader in Washington‚ losing 8-5 and winning 9-6. Ruth's homer comes off rookie Sid Cohen‚ who wins his 1st ML game.
Sep 23, 1934 - The Yankees keep their mathematical chances alive with a double win over the visiting Red Sox‚ but most of the cheers are for Babe Ruth. The Babe is 0-for-4 with a walk in the opener‚ a 1-0 three hitter spun by Lefty Gomez. Arndt Jorgens knocks in the only run‚ off George Hockette‚ to give Gomez his 26th win. In the nitecap‚ Boston scores 4 in the 5th‚ but the Yankees tie it on Lou Gehrig's 47th homer of the year. In the last of the 9th‚ Ruth emerges from the dugout as a pinch hitter‚ but lines out. New York then scores the winner in the 10th on Chapman's single. Red Ruffing is the starter and winner. George Selkirk has five hits‚ including a homer‚ in the two games.
Sep 7, 1934 - Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx‚ heirs to Babe Ruth's HR championship role‚ are in battle for the title. Gehrig hits his 44th in Chicago‚ and Foxx‚ his 41st in Detroit.
Aug 12, 1934 - Making a farewell appearance in Boston‚ Babe Ruth draws a record 46‚766 fans‚ with an estimated 20‚000 turned away at Fenway Park where he began his career as a pitcher 20 years ago. Ruth singles and doubles in the first game‚ but the Yankees lose to Wes Ferrell 6-4. Walks hold him to one official at bat in the 2nd game‚ which the Yankees win‚ 7-1‚ and he leaves the field to standing cheers in the 8th inning.
Aug 11, 1934 - At Boston‚ Babe Ruth hits a homer and then departs in the 9th with the Yankees winning‚ 2-1. The Sox tie it up‚ and in the 13th Tony Lazzeri lands a homer to put New York ahead again. Wes Ferrell‚ batting for Fritz Ostermueller‚ wins the game for Boston‚ 3-2. With Detroit shutting out Cleveland‚ New York falls 4 games behind.
Aug 10, 1934 - Babe Ruth announces 1934 is definitely his final season as a regular player. He says he will seek a managerial role and will pinch-hit.
Aug 4, 1934 - Backed by Babe Ruth's 18th homer with 2 on and a 2-run homer by Jack Saltgaver‚ the Yankees beat the A's‚ 5-1. Jimmy DeShong wins his 5th straight. Gehrig is 0-for-2‚ striking out for the first time since July 16. In the same period‚ he's hits 11 homers.
Jul 18, 1934 - An AL-record 22 players hit safely in the Cleveland 15-14 win over New York. Babe Ruth is banged in the leg by a ball hit by Gehrig and will be out for 10 days‚ the 2nd time an injury has sidelined him this season. The Indians score three in the 9th to edge Lefty Gomez and the Yankees‚ 15-14.
|
|
Jul 17, 1934 - Babe Ruth draws his 2‚000th base on balls at Cleveland‚ off Oral Hildebrand. He will retire with a still untopped walk record of 2‚056. But the Indians pound 3 pitchers for 17 hits to win‚ 13-5.
Jul 13, 1934 - Babe Ruth hits his 700th HR‚ a two-run shot in the 3rd off Timmy Bridges‚ to lead the Yankees to a‚ 4-2 win at Detroit's Navin Field. As he is circling the bases‚ Ruth shouts to his teammates‚ "I want that ball." As with his 500th and 600th homer‚ the Babe pays $20 to a youngster for the ball. The victory puts New York back in first place. Lou Gehrig singles in his first at-bat and then has a lumbago seizure and has to be helped off the field. Jack Saltgaver takes his place. Red Ruffing scatters six hits for the win.
Jul 5, 1934 - Lou Gehrig hits an inside-the-park grand slam‚ as the Yankees beat the Senators 8-3. It is his 4th slam of the season and 17th overall‚ passing Babe Ruth's record career total. Gehrig adds another homer and two singles to drive in seven runs as the Yankees top the Senators‚ 8-3. Gehrig will eventually set a career record of 23 grand slams. Gehrig now has 321 career HRs to Ruth's 698.
Jul 1, 1934 - Bill Terry is the top vote-getter in the All-Star balloting. Babe Ruth leads all AL outfielders.
Jun 24, 1934 - After being hitless in his last 21 at bats‚ Babe Ruth hits a grand slam in a 5-0 Yankee win over the White Sox
Jun 6, 1934 - Myril Hoag‚ subbing for Babe Ruth‚ ties the AL record with 6 singles in 6 at bats in the first game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox. The Yanks rout Lefty Grove and roll to a 15-3 win. Boston wins the nitecap‚ 7-3‚ to drop the Yanks to 2nd place.
May 13, 1934 - For the second time in his career‚ Cleveland's Lloyd Brown serves up a grand slam to Lou Gehrig‚ as the Yanks roll‚ 8-0‚ behind Lefty Gomez. Ben Chapman adds a homer and a pair of triples to lead New York. Babe Ruth leaves in the 4th inning when he is hit on the knee cap by a pitch from Thornton Lee.
Apr 5, 1934 - Babe Ruth is to be sponsored by Quaker Oats to do three 15-minute broadcasts a week over NBC. The total of $39‚000 for 13 weeks is $4‚000 more than Ruth's baseball salary.
Jan 15, 1934 - Babe Ruth accepts a cut of $17‚000 and signs a 1934 contract for $35‚000.
Dec 29, 1933 - Yankees owner Jake Ruppert refuses to release Babe Ruth so he can become manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
Oct 1, 1933 - Babe Ruth attracts 25‚000 fans to the Stadium as he takes the mound against the Red Sox. The Babe hits a 5th inning HR and takes a 6-0 lead into the 6th inning‚ then hangs on for a 6-5 complete-game win. The Yankees back the Babe with 18 outfield putouts. Today is his last pitching appearance‚ and he finishes his Yankee pitching career at 5-0. Bosox hurler Bob Kline takes the loss. Ruth now has 10 winning seasons in 10 years as a pitcher‚ a mark that will be matched in 2004 by Andy Pettitte.
Sep 23, 1933 - Despite the 5th-place Tigers' 5-3 win over the Browns‚ manager Bucky Harris submits his resignation. Babe Ruth's name will be prominent in the newspapers as a possible replacement.
Aug 30, 1933 - In New York‚ Babe Ruth announces that he will quit after the season. "My legs won't stand the strain and I can't play next year‚" he admits‚ leaving open the door to a manager's job. His wife suggests a European vacation.
Jul 6, 1933 - The first ML All-Star Game is played at Comiskey Park‚ and‚ appropriately‚ Babe Ruth is the star‚ though he finished 6th in the voting. Al Simmons and Chuck Klein were the top two vote-getters. Ruth strikes out against Lon Warneke‚ but his 2-run HR is the margin of victory in the AL's 4-2 win. Lefty Gomez‚ the starter and winner‚ also knocks in the game's first run. John McGraw comes out of retirement to manage the NL. The match draws 49‚200 fans who pay $52‚000.
Jun 8, 1933 - Welcome to the Bigs. A's reliever Bobby Coombs gives up a homer to his first ML batter‚ but Jimmie Foxx homers in his first 3 at bats‚ all off Lefty Gomez‚ as the A's outscore the Yankees 14-10. Foxx had homered his last time up the previous day to give him ML record tying 4 consecutive HRs. Bobby Lowe did it in 1894. Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth hit homers for New York‚ with the Babe's landing across the street from the RF fence. Losing pitcher Wilcey Moore gives up 6 runs in the 8th. Art Mahaffey is the winner.
Jun 3, 1933 - Against the Yankees in New York‚ the A's score 11 runs in the 3rd inning‚ then watch New York score 10 in the 5th. Ben Chapman and Tony Lazzeri hit homers in the inning‚ and Lazzeri‚ Jorgenson‚ and Crosetti all have 2 hits in the frame. Babe Ruth clouts his 10th of the year in the 8th. The A's fail to score after the 3rd‚ as pitcher Jumbo Brown strikes out 12 A's in 6 1/3 innings of relief. The Yanks win 17-11. Not until the Red Sox in 1998 will another opponent tally eleven runs in an inning at Yankee Stadium.
Apr 1, 1933 - Babe Ruth makes his 3rd appearance in Memphis and like the last 3 opening games‚ the Chicks defeat the Yankees‚ winning‚ 5-4. Tomrrow the Yanks will win‚ 6-0‚ behind Lefty Gomez. Ruth goes hitless getting no good pitches to hit.
Mar 24, 1933 - Babe Ruth signs for $52‚000‚ down from last year's $75‚000. The large cut is significant of the Depression era.
Oct 1, 1932 - The WS moves to Chicago‚ and the Yankees continue to torment the Cubs‚ winning 7-5. In the fifth inning‚ Babe Ruth waits until he has 2 strikes and then gestures to P Charlie Root. He belts the next pitch into the CF bleachers‚ Ruth's 2nd HR of the game. Gehrig also hammers out 2 round-trippers. including his 2nd homer‚ in the 5th off Root following Ruth's "called shot."
Sep 24, 1932 - In a battle of Boston collegians‚ Harvard beats BC. Charlie Devens‚ former Harvard hurler‚ makes his ML debut for the Yankees and beats Boston‚ 8-2. The loss goes to Eddie Gallagher‚ former Boston College pitcher who exits in the 5th. Babe Ruth swats his 41st homer of the year in the 9th and Lou Gehrig belts his 34th in the 5th. The series-bound Yankees will end the season with a new ML record of scoring in every game. Not until the 2000 Reds will a team match this mark.
Sep 20, 1932 - Babe Ruth returns to the Yankees lineup.
Sep 8, 1932 - The Yankees and Tigers replay protested August 1st game as the nightcap of a doubleheader‚ but end in a 7-7 tie. After the game‚ Babe Ruth experiences abdominal pains he believes are an appendicitis attack. He will be out of the lineup indefinitely. Sam Byrd‚ subbing for Ruth in the opener‚ collects 5 hits for the Yankees‚ including 2 HRs in a 5-4 win.
Sep 7, 1932 - Babe Ruth is hospitalized with pains in his side. The slugger will be out of action for five days.
Sep 3, 1932 - Against the Red Sox‚ Jimmie Foxx of the A's poles his 50th and 51st HRs to become the 3rd player to reach 50 in a season‚ joining Babe Ruth and Hack Wilson. Foxx's 2nd homer‚ in the 9th‚ ties the game at 4-4‚ and McNair follows with a game winning HR‚ his 4th homer in 2 days.
Aug 14, 1932 - The Senators knock out Lefty Gomez in the 9th‚ but the Yankee ace still wins his 20th‚ 5-4. Babe Ruth starts the game's scoring with his 33rd homer in the 4th‚ and adds a double and single.
Jul 28, 1932 - At Cleveland‚ Babe Ruth has 3 hits‚ including his 27th and 28th homers‚ and drives in 7 tallies to personally account for the Yankees 10-4 win over the Tribe. Ruth is still suffering from an injured leg but is needed today because Ben Chapman is ill. Ruffing fans 10 in the victory.
Jun 3, 1932 - In Philadelphia‚ Lou Gehrig hits 4 consecutive HRs and narrowly misses a 5th in the Yankees-Athletics slugfest won by New York‚ 20-13. Tony Lazzeri hits for the cycle‚ including a grand slam‚ and the teams set a still-standing record for extra bases on long hits in a single game (41). Gehrig's 5th inning homer-his 3rd of the game-comes off A's starter George Earnshaw and follows a blast by Babe Ruth‚ his 15th. Lou's last homer‚ in the 7th‚ is served up by Roy Mahaffey. Earl Combs adds another for New York to help the Yanks set a total base record of 50. Jimmie Foxx has a triple as he and Mickey Cochrane connect for the A's‚
Apr 20, 1932 - The Yankees draw the largest paid attendance‚ 55‚452‚ for any home opener. [Their "announced" attendance‚ however‚ when the stadium opened in 1923 was 74‚217]. Babe Ruth homers‚ as Lefty Gomez beats Lefty Grove‚ and the Yankees defeat the Athletics‚ 8-3.
Apr 12, 1932 - At Shibe Park‚ bitter cold and the Depression limit the crowd to 16‚000 for the Opener with the Yankees‚ a 12-6 slugfest won by New York. New York racks up five home runs-two each by Babe Ruth and Sammy Byrd‚ and another by Lou Gehrig. Gehrig adds a triple and single‚ as the Yankees score ten runs and hit four homers off ace George Earnshaw. Ruth clouts a three-run homer in the first that lands on a roof across 20th street and a two-run homer in the 4th that travels even farther. The longest homer of the day‚ however‚ is Jimmie Foxx's shot to center in the 7th. Jack Saltzgraver and the A's Max Bishop each walk four times and Gehrig‚ with an 11-4 lead in the 9th‚ steals home with Ben Chapman swiping 2B. Al Simmons answers with a two-run homer‚ the 7th of the game‚ off Lefty Gomez. With the bases full of A's‚ Red Ruffing gets the last out.
Mar 16, 1932 - In St. Petersburg‚ Babe Ruth signs a one-year contract for $75‚000.
Jan 14, 1932 - Babe Ruth rejects a Yankee offer of $70‚000‚ as the major leagues vow to cut salaries by $1 million.
Sep 27, 1931 - Lou Gehrig hits a HR to tie Babe Ruth at 46 while the Yankees pound Lefty Grove‚ 13-1‚ and deny him his 32nd victory. Grove throws just 3 innings in the warm-up for the Series. Gehrig drives in 2 runs as he (184) and Ruth (163) combine to drive in 347 runs for the year‚ the most productive duo in history. Dickey has 4 hits and ends the year with no passed balls‚ the only AL catcher-and the Yankees are the only AL team-to ever accomplish the feat. The Yankees score 1‚067 runs this season‚ the highest number this century.
Sep 24, 1931 - The round-robin playoff among New York City's 3 ML teams‚ to raise money for the unemployed‚ concludes with Brooklyn losing to both the Giants and the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Again‚ a near capacity crowd turns out and adds $48‚000 to bring the fund to $108‚000. In field events held between games‚ Babe Ruth‚ normally a left-handed hitter‚ bats right and wins the fungo hitting contest. He breaks the old distance record held by Big Ed Walsh. Ruth's drive lands in deep center field‚ 421 feet away. The old record‚ set 20 years earlier‚ was 4191?2 feet.
Sep 17, 1931 - In the first of two‚ the Yankees and Red Ruffing rough up the Browns and George Blaeholder‚ 17-0. Bill Dickey's grand slam is the big blow. The Yanks take the nitecap‚ 6-1 behind Lefty Gomez's three hitter and Babe Ruth's 41st and 42nd homers of the year. Ruth connects for a home run in every park in the AL‚ a feat he's accomplished every year since 1919‚ except 1922. No other american Leaguer has homered in every park in a season.
Sep 9, 1931 - To raise funds to help the unemployed in the Depression‚ the Yankees‚ Giants‚ and Robins agree to a series of benefit games. Sixty thousand fans‚ paying regular prices‚ raise $59‚000 in the first matchup‚ as Babe Ruth homers and the Yankees beat the Giants 7-2. At Comiskey Park‚ a crowd of 34‚865 raises $45‚000 for Governor Emmerson's unemployment relief fund and watch the Cubs trim the White Sox‚ 3-0‚ behind Charley Root. Root twirls a 6-hitter and drives in all the runs.
Aug 21, 1931 - After belting #599‚ a grand slam in yesterday's game‚ Babe Ruth hits his 600th HR‚ off George Blaeholder of the Browns‚ as the Yankees win 11-7. Lou Gehrig homers immediately after the Babe's historic blow. In their 10 years as teammates‚ they will homer in the same inning 19 times and in the same game 72 times.
Jul 17, 1931 - The Indians Wes Ferrell allows 3 hits‚ including a homer by Babe Ruth‚ in subduing the Yankees‚ 2-1‚ in 8 innings. Rain shortens the game. Ferrell nullifies the Babe's blast with a 7th inning HR off Pennock to win the game.
Jul 2, 1931 - Babe Ruth homers-his 19th-to drive in a run for the 11th consecutive game as the Yankees drub Detroit 13-1. Ben Chapman follows Ruth with another HR. Ruth has 18 RBIs in the string‚ but will be collared in his next game.
May 4, 1931 - At Yankee Stadium‚ Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth‚ back in the lineup‚ switch positions to spare Ruth's lame leg. Despite 5 hits by the pair‚ the Red Sox beat the Yankees‚ 7-3‚ as Gehrig makes an error. It is the last game in which Gehrig plays OF.
Apr 26, 1931 - Dusty Cooke‚ Yankee RF‚ separates his shoulder diving for a ?y ball off the bat of Ossie Bluege of Washington‚ and 1B Gehrig winds up chasing the ball‚ which becomes an inside-the-park HR. With Babe Ruth still sidelined‚ the shorthanded Yankees send P Red Ruffing to the outfield. The game's most significant play comes with Lyn Lary on base when Lou Gehrig's drive into the CF stands at Washington bounces back and is caught by CF Harry Rice. According to the rules‚ this is a home run‚ but when Lary sees Rice catching the ball‚ he thinks it's the final out of the inning. Unnoticed by Joe McCarthy‚ coaching at 3B‚ Lary heads for the dugout after crossing 3B. Gehrig circles the bases‚ but he is called out and gets credit for a triple instead of a HR and loses 2 RBI. As a result Gehrig will end the season tied for the HR title with Babe Ruth at 46 and will have "only" 184 RBI. The Yanks also lose the game‚ 9-7‚ and McCarthy will do no more coaching at the bases this season. Gehrig's triple also means that at the year's end the majors will collect 1‚070 triples‚ one more than the two leagues will total in homers (1‚069). It will be the last season that there are more triples than homers. For Cooke‚ the injury ends his season at 27 games and a .333 batting average. The injury will cut down his effectiveness and after just 3 appearances next year‚ he'll be traded to Boston.
|
|
Apr 22, 1931 - Babe Ruth collides with Charlie Berry‚ Red Sox catcher and former pro football player‚ while trying to score on a sacrifice ?y. Ruth is carried off the field at Fenway Park and taken to a hospital. Ruth has 3 hits and 2 runs before being replaced by Myril Hoag. New York wins‚ 7-5.
Apr 2, 1931 - Miss Jackie Mitchell‚ a 17-year-old gate attraction for Joe Engel's Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern Association)‚ pitches against the New York Yankees in an exhibition game in Chattanooga. Babe Ruth waves wildly at two pitches and watches a 3rd strike go by. Lou Gehrig gallantly times his 3 swings to miss the ball‚ but unsmiling Tony Lazzeri‚ after first trying to bunt‚ walks and Miss Mitchell leaves the game. The final score is 14-4 Yankees. In 1933 Mitchell will pitch for the House of David team.
Sep 28, 1930 - Babe Ruth returns to the scene of his youthful fame‚ the pitcher's mound at Fenway Park‚ and hurls a 9-3 complete game win over the Red Sox. Gehrig takes Ruth's LF position‚ ending his streak of 885 consecutive games at 1B‚ and is 3-for-5 to finish the year at .379. Al Simmons‚ who sits out the last game‚ leads the AL with a .381 mark. The third-place Yankees are the first team in history to score moe than a 1‚000 runs in a season (1062). Next year they will set the all-time mark at 1‚067‚ but finish 2nd.
Jul 14, 1930 - At Comiskey Park‚ the White Sox outslug the Yankees 10-9 in the opener before being handcuffed in the nitecap by Bob Shawkey‚ 7-2. Lou Gehrig homers in each game‚ while Babe Ruth‚ nursing a sore hand‚ contributes a two run single in the opener for his only safety. Ben Chapman adds a 4th-inning homer in the nitecap.
Jul 12, 1930 - The visiting Yankees use a 6-run rally in the 8th inning to beat the White Sox‚ 11-6‚ and gain a split on the day. Chicago wins the opener‚ 11-7. In the 2nd game‚ the Sox score 4 in the 7th‚ but reliever Red Ruffing stops the attack. Leading off the 8th inning‚ Ruffing sails a homer into the RF stands to start the New York rally. Babe Ruth‚ his 3 day suspension over‚ collects three singles in the two games. The New York Times reports that "during lulls in the activity‚ small children raced out into left field to shake hands with him‚ provoking the umpires' displeasure." The hitting honors for the day belong to Chicago's Carl Reynolds with seven hits‚ including two doubles and a homer. His three-run homer in the first game occurs when Harry Rice can't hold his long fly ball‚ then overthrows 3B. Smead Jolley adds a homer and triple in the opener as Chicago unloads ten runs in three innings to back Ted Lyons pitching.
Jun 25, 1930 - The 3rd-place Yankees sweep a pair from the Browns‚ winning 5-4 and 16-4. Sam Byrd has a single‚ double and triple in the opener to pace New York‚ and Babe Ruth hits #25 and #26 in the nitecap to back Red Ruffing's pitching.
Jun 24, 1930 - The Yankees sweep their 2nd straight double header from the A's‚ winning 10-6 and 11-1. Babe Ruth hits another 2 homers‚ setting a ML record of 8 homers in 6 games.
May 22, 1930 - In Philadelphia‚ the Yankees and the Athletics continue the HR barrage as the Yankees take both games of a 2nd straight doubleheader‚ 10-1 and 20-13. Babe Ruth hits a pair of HRs in the opener‚ as does Ben Chapman and winning pitcher George Pipgras. The Yanks score 9 runs in the 1st two innings of the 2nd second game‚ but the A's come back to tie it at 12 apiece. The Yanks win the assault 20-13 as Lazzeri is 4-for-4 scores 5 runs‚ and knocks in 4. Ruth hits another in the 2nd game‚ while Gehrig powers 3 round trippers to drive in 8 runs. On the A's side‚ Foxx has 2 homers to drive in 6 runs. For the afternoon‚ the teams combine to hit 14 round trippers‚ a then-record 10 in game 2.
May 21, 1930 - Babe Ruth hits three consecutive HRs in the first game of a doubleheader against the A's‚ then batting against Jack Quinn in the 9th‚ Ruth decides to hit right handed. After 2 strikes‚ he switches to lefty but strikes out. This is the first of two career 3-homer games for the Babe. Max Bishop draws 5 walks for the 2nd time in his career (he is the only player to do this twice)‚ and Foxx homers to help the A's to a 15-7 victory. Ruth is homerless in the 2nd game‚ a 4-1 Yankee loss‚ but Bishop has 3 more walks. Bishop will walk 8 times in a doubleheader in 1934‚ the only player to collect more than 6 walks in an afternoon.
May 18, 1930 - George Pipgras tosses his 3rd shutout of the season as the Yankees again support his pitching by bombing the Red Sox‚ 11-0‚ in Boston. Babe Ruth clocks an Ed Morris pitch over the RF bleachers‚ one of the longest homers ever at Fenway.
Apr 20, 1930 - In today's issue of the Chicago Tribune‚ writer Irwin Howe names his all-time all-star team based on his 42 years of observing baseball: Babe Ruth‚ RF; Tris Speaker‚ CF; Ty Cobb‚ LF; Cap Anson‚ 1B; Eddie Collins‚ 2B; Honus Wagner‚ SS; Pie Traynor‚ 3B; Ray Schalk‚ C; Cy Young‚ P; Walter Johnson‚ P.
Apr 8, 1930 - In Memphis‚ the Chicks beat the Yankees in an exhibtion game‚ 3-1. Babe Ruth‚ hobbling from an injury incurred 2 days ago in Dallas‚ bashes a HR for the only run. In his next at bat he hits the top of the signboard at Russwood Park as Ruth ambles to 1B for single. Sam Byrd pinch runs.
Mar 8, 1930 - Babe Ruth signs a 2-year contract for $160‚000 with New York. At $80‚000 per year‚ he is the highest paid player of all time. When it is pointed out he is earning more money than the President of the United States‚ Ruth observes: "I had a better year than he did." Ed Barrow‚ Yankee GM‚ assures posterity‚ "No one will ever be paid more than Ruth."
Feb 2, 1930 - The Yankees waive Leo Durocher out of the AL and sell him to the Reds. Whispered rumors‚ repeated by Urban Shocker in his 2001 autobiography‚ contend that Leo was stealing money and jewelry from his teammates. Allegedly‚ roommate Babe Ruth beat up Durocher after a theft of marked money confirmed his suspicions. The Yankees‚ according to Shocker‚ prevail on the rest of the AL to waive Durocher. [Another story has Durocher‚ in debt‚ asking for a $1‚000 advance on his salary from Ed Barrow so he can pay a hotel bill. When Barrow turns him down‚ Leo curses him‚ and Barrow trades him the next day to the Reds.]
Sep 24, 1929 - The Yankees celebrate Babe Ruth Day at Fenway by winning‚ 5-3 over Boston. Ruth is 2-for-3 with a double. Tom Zachary wins his 12th without a loss: his 12-0 season record will not be equaled.
Aug 25, 1929 - After three straight shutouts by Browns hurlers-Gray‚ Blaeholder‚ and Crowder-the Yankees break their 32-inning scoreless streak with a 4th-inning homer by Babe Ruth. St. Louis still wins‚ 3-2.
Aug 11, 1929 - Babe Ruth hits HR No. 500 and his 30th of the year‚ in the 2nd inning off Willis Hudlin of Cleveland‚ but the Yankees lose‚ 6-5. Ruth has gone deep 6 times in his last 7 games. The homer today lands on Lexington Avenue and is recovered by Mr. Jake Geiser who returns it to Ruth. The Babe gives him $20 and 2 new autographed balls for it.
Aug 7, 1929 - For the 2nd game in a row‚ Babe Ruth hits a grand slam home run as the Yanks roll to a 13-1 win over the A's in the lidlifter. Cochrane homers in his one at bat for the A's only run as the Yankees score 10 runs in the first 2 innings. George Pipgras is the winner. The A's take the nitecap‚ 4-2‚ as George Earnshaw goes 8 innings for the win.
Aug 6, 1929 - After the visiting Senators outslug the Yankees 13-11‚ New York earns a split‚ 8-0‚ on two homers by Babe Ruth. The first is a grand slam in the 5th‚ his 26th homer of the year. Heimach scatters 3 hits to earn the nitecap win. Buddy Myers 4 hits‚ including 3 doubles in the opener‚ paces a 14-hit Nat attack. Durst‚ Cronin‚ and West homer for Washington.
Jul 31, 1929 - At Yankee Stadium Babe Ruth hits a fungo 447 feet in an unofficial test‚ beating all trial competition records. The old mark was held by Ed Walsh‚ who hit a ball 419 feet 6 inches in 1911. In the game today the Yanks crush the White Sox‚ 16-2‚ as Gehrig has a HR and reaches base 5 times.
Jul 21, 1929 - Wes Ferrell outpitches Waite Hoyt to give Cleveland a 6-4 win over the Yankees. Babe Ruth‚ still nursing a leg injury‚ contributes a pinch single. Gehrig is tossed in the 4th inning for protesting a strike 3 call‚ and Miller Huggins quickly follows.
Jul 3, 1929 - Babe Ruth belts a grand slam‚ off Red Ruffing‚ in the 7th as the Yanks rally to beat the visiting Red Sox‚ 6-5. Reliever Lefty Heimach wins his own game with an inside-the-park homer in the 8th inning. Losing pitcher Red Ruffing also hits a home run.
Jun 7, 1929 - Babe Ruth enters New York's St. Vincent's Hospital for treatment for a cold‚ and a heart murmur is discovered. The Babe is ordered to rest and will be out of action for two weeks. Without Ruth‚ the Indians cuff the Yankees‚ 7-3‚ sending them into 3rd place. Joe Sewell hits a 3-run homer in the 1st and Ed Morgan follows with a roundtripper.
Apr 17, 1929 - Babe Ruth and actress Claire Hodgson are married at 5 A.M. to avoid crowds. The Yankee home opener with the Red Sox is again rained out so the wedding party continues uninterrupted.
Oct 9, 1928 - After a rainout, Waite Hoyt and Bill Sherdel are back on the mound for game 4. After 6 innings, the Cards hold a 2–1 lead. With one out in the 7th, Babe Ruth hits a HR, his 2nd of the game, after seeming to take a third strike on a quick pitch from Sherdel who took the catcher’s relay with his foot on the rubber and fired back. The umpires discussed the quick pitch, allowed in the NL but outlawed in the AL, and ruled it would not be counted. Two pitches later, Lou Gehrig follows suit. When Bob Meusel singles, in comes Grover Cleveland Alexander to face Tony Lazzeri. Lazzeri doubles and later scores the 4th run of the inning. In the 8th, Cedric Durst, subbing for Earle Combs, hits one out of the park, and Ruth follows with his 3rd HR of the game. Final score is 7–3 and the Yanks sweep their 2nd straight World Series. Ruth’s WS BA of .625 is still unmatched; with Gehrig’s .545 and a record 9 RBI, they also set individual and team offensive records for hits, HRs, total bases, and at bats in a game.
Oct 4, 1928 - The first game is a swift execution before 61‚425 at New York. Babe Ruth has a single and double and scores twice‚ once on Bob Meusel's 4th-inning HR‚ and Lou Gehrig is 2-for-4 with 2 RBI off Bill Sherdel (21-10). Waite Hoyt (23-7) sets the Cards down with 3 hits‚ one a solo HR by Bottomley in the 7th‚ for a 4-1 win.
Sep 11, 1928 - In the Yankees 5-3 win at the Stadium‚ Ty Cobb makes his last appearance as a batter‚ popping out against Yankee Hank Johnson to SS Mark Koenig as a pinch hitter in the 9th. Babe Ruth's two run clout‚ off Lefty Grove in the 8th‚ seals the win for New York. The Bronx Bombers seal the fate of the A's with their 4th straight win over the Quakers‚ leaving the Mackmen in 2nd place‚ 2 1/2 games back.
Aug 1, 1928 - In the Yankees 12-1 rout of the Browns‚ Babe Ruth hits HR No. 42 in the 1st‚ off Alvin Crowder‚ and is 4 weeks ahead of his 1927 pace. Bob Meusel also cracks a homer. Winning pitcher Hank Johnson scatters 7 hits and goes an unprecedented 5-for-5 at the plate.
Jul 23, 1928 - In Boston‚ the Yanks lose to the Red Sox‚ 8-3‚ despite Babe Ruth's 40th homer. Ruth's homer clears the left-centerfield wall‚ some 450 feet from home‚ and is the first ball to clear that part of Fenway. Ruth‚ who adds a double against Danny MacFayden‚ is now 28 games ahead of last year's home run pace. Al Shealy takes the loss for New York.
Jun 28, 1928 - Babe Ruth slugs two HRs to lead the Yankees to a 10-4 victory over the Athletics. Ty Cobb appears in his 3‚000th career game.
Jun 15, 1928 - At St. Louis‚ Otis Brannan has a homerun and 3-run double to pace the Browns to a 5-4 victory over the Yankees. Red Kress also homers for St. Louis while Babe Ruth hits his 24th for the Bombers.
Apr 19, 1928 - The Yankees are out of first place for the first time since May 1926 when they lose‚ 7-6‚ the morning Patriots Day game in Boston. Boston has just one hit in 5 innings off Al Sheeley but the Sox overcome a 6-0 deficit to win. Pat Collins homers for the Sox‚ with Slim Harriss picking up the relief win over Cy Moore. Behind Herb Pennock‚ New York takes the nitecap‚ 7-2‚ in a game rained out after 6 innings. Hooks Wiltse is the losing pitcher. Ken Williams and Babe Ruth exchange homers.
Apr 13, 1928 - At Philadelphia‚ the Yankees edge the Athletics‚ 8-7‚ on a double by Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig hits a long drive off Eddie Rommel that goes through an open window on 20th Street. Cy Moore allows just 2 hits through 5 innings for New York before weakening‚ but picks up the win. Joe Hauser‚ returning to the A's after a year in the minors‚ collects two homers and a triple.
Sep 29, 1927 - Babe Ruth hits 2 HRs to tie his 59 of 1921 in a 15-4 win over Washington. The 2nd of the HRs is a 5th inning grand slam off Paul Hopkins‚ making his ML debut‚ and is the Babe's 2nd slam in 2 games. He will match the feat on August 6‚ 7‚ 1929. Hopkins started the fifth inning and loaded the bases for the Babe.
Sep 27, 1927 - Babe Ruth connects for a grand slam off Lefty Grove while Lou Gehrig hits No. 46 in a 7-4 win over the A's. For Ruth it is his 6th grand slam‚ but just his 3rd as a Yankee. Ruth has 57 with 3 games to play.
Sep 22, 1927 - Against the Tigers‚ Babe Ruth hits his 56th homer‚ off Ken Holloway‚ and the Yankees edge Detroit‚ 8-7. Earl Combs adds a record three consecutive triples in the win.
Sep 13, 1927 - Babe Ruth hits two (51 & 52)‚ and the Yankees win a pair by 5-3 scores from Cleveland to clinch the AL pennant with a 98-41 record and 17-game lead. It is Miller Huggins' 5th pennant‚ tying him with Connie Mack. Waite Hoyt scatters 10 hits and wins his 20th in the nitecap. He will finish at 22-7‚ the only 20-game winner on the team.
Sep 6, 1927 - At Fenway Park‚ the Yankees and Red Sox split a pair‚ with New York rolling to a 14-2 win in the opener behind Babe Ruth. Gehrig takes the home run lead with a 5th inning homer off Tony Welzer. But the Babe responds with two homers‚ in the 6th and 7th‚ the former a drive over the centerfield fence that is called "the longest ever hit at Fenway" (TSN). Both shots also come against Welzer. Ruth hits his 3rd of the day‚ number 47‚ in the nitecap‚ off Jack Russell‚ but the terrier nips New York‚ 5-2. There will be 34 homers hit at Fenway this season‚ but only 5 by the Sox. Ruth will hit 8‚ Gehrig 6‚ the only NY HRs hit there.
Sep 4, 1927 - At Philadelphia‚ Babe Ruth hits his 44th homer of the season‚ and the 400th of his career‚ off Rube Walberg. The Yankees cruise to a win‚ 11-2.
Aug 27, 1927 - Babe Ruth has a homer‚ off reliever Ernie Nevers‚ and a triple to pace the Yankees to a 14-4 win over the Browns. Meusel and Combs also add homers.
Aug 22, 1927 - The Yankees lose their 4th straight for the first time this year‚ 9-4‚ to the Indians‚ despite Babe Ruth's 40th HR. Righty Urban Shocker‚ on in relief‚ breaks a finger on his left hand when he is hit by Joe Sewell's liner. Sewell has 4 of the 19 hits.
Aug 16, 1927 - In an 8-1 Yankee victory‚ Babe Ruth puts his stamp of approval on the newly constructed Comiskey Park grandstand roof by cranking a Tommy Thomas pitch over the addition in left field‚ where it lands in a parking lot. He is the first player to hit one over the roof. It is Ruth's 37th of the year and he now trails Lou Gehrig by a homer.
Aug 10, 1927 - At Washington‚ Babe Ruth drives in 4 runs‚ 3 on his 36th homer‚ as the Yankees prevail‚ 4-3. Tom Zachary is the loser.
Jul 24, 1927 - Off Tommy Thomas‚ Babe Ruth hits his first homer of the year at Comiskey Park‚ as the Yankees edge the White Sox‚ 3-2. Ruth has now connected in all 8 AL parks this year.
Jul 12, 1927 - Babe Ruth breaks an 0-for-14 drought by banging his 30th homer of the year in the 9th. Babe is now a homer ahead of Gehrig. Behind Urban Shocker's shutout‚ the Yanks coast to a 7-0 win over the Indians.
Jul 9, 1927 - At Detroit's Navin Field. Babe Ruth hits two homers and two doubles to lead the Yankees to a 19-7 driveby of the Tigers. Detroit first sacker Johnny Neun almost matches the Babe‚ going 5-for-5 and swiping 5 bases.
Jul 4, 1927 - Before an estimated crowd of 75‚000 at Yankee Stadium‚ the Senators are pounded in both games by the first-place Yankees. In the opener‚ the Yanks quickly put to rest the Senators 10-game win streak by scoring 8 runs in 4 innings off Sloppy Thurston. New York is scoreless against reliever Walter Johnson until the 8th‚ when they score 4 runs‚ 2 on a HR by Gehrig‚ to win‚ 12-1. Gehrig adds another in the nitecap‚ a 21-1 cakewalk for New York. Every starter collects a hit in both games‚ except for the 2nd game winner Wilcey Moore. George Pipgras is the opening game winner. New York gets 5 safeties from Babe Ruth and Joe Dugan for the afternoon.
Jun 30, 1927 - A crowd of 3‚000 at Yankee Stadium see the Yanks hand the Red Sox their 12th straight loss‚ beating the visitors‚ 13-6 on 19 safeties. Gehrig takes over the home run lead when he clouts his 25th in the first inning‚ a bounce home run off Slim Harriss‚ but Babe Ruth‚ back in the lineup‚ golfs his 25th in the 4th‚ also off Slim. Gehrig has 3 hits and also swipes home. New York (49-20) wins its 5th straight while Boston loses its 12th straight.
Jun 11, 1927 - In New York‚ Babe Ruth clouts two consecutive home runs (numbers 19 and 20) off Garland Buckeye‚ but in his next time up Ruth is set upon by Cleveland C Luke Sewell who demands that the umpires inspect the Bambino's bat. The umps find nothing illegal‚ but the crowd of 30‚000 cheer the Babe‚ who strikes out. Lazzeri adds a homer and New York wins‚ 6-4. Burns is 3-for-3 with 2 doubles for the Tribe.
Jun 9, 1927 - At New York‚ the Yanks win for the 3rd straight over Chicago‚ winning 8-3. New York knocks Blankenship out of the box in the 7th and Ray Morehart hits reliever Cole's 1st pitch for a 3-run homer. Babe Ruth follows with a triple and then steals home. The Yanks score 6 in the frame.
May 29, 1927 - In a loosely played game at Yankee Stadium‚ the Yanks swamp the Red Sox‚ 15-7‚ scoring 7 runs in the 8th inning. Babe Ruth propels his 13th homer‚ off Danny MacFayden‚ while Johnny Grabowski is 4-for-4 with a walk. Ruether is ineffective‚ serving up gopher ball to Bosox Hartley in the 2nd and Haney in the 3rd. The Sox give it back in the 4th with 3 walks‚ 2 errors‚ a single by Meusel and a double by Koenig‚ to make 4 runs. Ted Wingfield‚ pitching 2/3 of the 4th‚ takes the loss.
Apr 15, 1927 - Babe Ruth hits his first homer of the year‚ off Howard Ehmke in the 1st‚ in New York's 6-3 victory over the visiting Athletics. Herb Pennock goes the distance for the win.
Apr 12, 1927 - After Mayor Jimmy Walker tosses out the first ball in New York‚ 65‚000 watch the Yankees batter Philadelphia's Lefty Grove 8-3‚ the biggest Opening Day crowd ever. After four runless innings‚ the Yanks score four in the 5th and four more in the 6th. In the 6th inning Ben Paschal pinch hits for Babe Ruth and singles against Grove‚ then goes out to RF. Paschal pinch hit for Gehrig on several occasions this year. Ruth‚ with 2 strikeouts and a pop up in 3 at bats against Grove‚ will later say he did not feel well. Waite Hoyt goes all the way for New York‚ walking three and allowing eight hits‚ including a 9th inning pinch single by Zack Wheat‚ longtime Brooklyn favorite. The Yankees will share or hold first place from the first day of the race to the last; a feat unmatched in the AL until the 1984 Tigers.
Mar 3, 1927 - Babe Ruth signs for a reported $70‚000 a year for 3 years.
Oct 23, 1926 - In South Bend‚ Indiana‚ the Babe Ruth All Stars‚ including Johnny Mostil‚ Marty McManus and Urban Shocker‚ beat the local South Bend Indians 7-3 in a game called after 6 innings because of a late start. The all stars were delayed 2 hours when their vehicle broke down‚ as researched by historian Kevin Paczkowski. The Babe is 3-for-4 and hits a HR estimated at 600 feet. In preparation for the Babe's visit‚ the local team stocked up on baseballs at a cost of $1.23 each: in Montreal on October 17‚ the Babe hit 36 into a nearby river‚ according to the South Bend Tribune‚ and the ensuing game had to be stopped for lack of balls. Babe's squad will tie tomorrow when the Indians pitch the Giants Fred Fitzsimmons‚ who lives nearby. Joining Freddie is Fred Lindstrom.
Oct 10, 1926 - On a drizzling New York afternoon‚ only 38‚093 show up at the Stadium for the deciding WS contest. Grover Alexander‚ possibly sleeping off a hangover in the bullpen‚ barely notices when Jess Haines take a 3-2 lead over Waite Hoyt into the 7th. Haines weakens in the last of the 7th; 3 walks put Earle Combs‚ Bob Meusel‚ and Lou Gehrig on base with 2 out and Tony Lazzeri at the plate. Hornsby then waves in Alexander. On a 1-1 count Lazzeri hits a line drive into the left-field seats‚ a few feet to the foul side of the pole‚ then swings and misses for strike 3. Alexander sets the Yanks down in order until Babe Ruth draws his 11th walk with 2 out in the 9th‚ and is thrown out inexplicably trying to steal 2B. The Cards and St. Louis have their first World Championship. Each winner collects $5‚584.51‚ the losers‚ $3‚417.75.
Oct 6, 1926 - In game 4‚ the Yankees tee off on Flint Rhem (20-7) and 4 other Cardinal hurlers for 10 runs and 14 hits‚ while Waite Hoyt (16-12) strands 10 Cardinal runners for a 10-5 win. Babe Ruth hits 3 HRs to fulfill his October 1st promise to a bedridden 11-year-old‚ Johnny Sylvester. Ruth's 3rd clout‚ in the 6th‚ is the longest blast ever seen in St. Louis. It clears the park and goes through the window of an auto dealer across the street. In the 4th‚ Taylor Douthit and Chick Hafey collide in the OF as the ball drops; Douthit is sidelined for the rest of the Series.
Oct 2, 1926 - Game 1 of the WS before 61‚658 at New York belongs to southpaws Herb Pennock (25-11) and Bill Sherdel (16-12). Two hits give the Cards a quick first-inning run. Sherdel issues 3 walks for a New York run without a hit. In the 6th‚ Babe Ruth slaps a single to left‚ moves to 2B on a sacrifice‚ and scores on a Lou Gehrig single for a 2-1 win. It is the first of Gehrig's record 8 game-winning RBI in WS play.
Sep 21, 1926 - In St. Louis‚ the Senators collect 17 hits in beating the Browns for the 3rd straight time‚ 11-6. Crowder‚ the winning pitcher‚ has 2 hits‚ while Goose Goslin has 4 hits‚ including his 17th homer. All 17 of his homers have come on the road‚ the highest home run total for a player who has hit none at home. Only Babe Ruth will end up with more homers (24) on the road this year. Goose is tied for 4th in the AL.
Sep 21, 1926 - Behind Waite Hoyt's two-hitter‚ the Yankees bomb the White Sox‚ 14-0‚ to retain their 3-game lead in the AL. Babe Ruth has a triple and hits his 44th homer. Al Simmons is 2nd with 19.
Aug 28, 1926 - Babe Ruth hits his 40th and Meusel adds a bounce home run‚ but the Tigers prevail over the Yankees‚ 8-4. Fats Fothergill is 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles for Detroit.
Jul 31, 1926 - At Chicago‚ Babe Ruth breaks a 1-1 tie with an 8th inning home run to the deepest part of the right centerfield bleachers. The Yankees win‚ 2-1 for Sam Jones‚ for their 10th win in a row.
Jul 24, 1926 - Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth demonstrate that power hitting is not the only thing they can do when Lou scores on a double steal with the Babe in a 7-4 victory over the White Sox. They had pulled the same double steal against the Red Sox on April 13th.
Jun 8, 1926 - In Detroit‚ Babe Ruth slugs a HR reported to carry 626 feet‚ in the Yanks 11-9 slugfest over the Tigers. The hit‚ off Tiger P Lil Stoner‚ lands at the intersection of Cherry Street and Brooklyn Avenue‚ two blocks from Navin Field. The youngster who retrieves the ball sells it to the Babe for $20.
Apr 20, 1926 - The Yankees batter Washington 18–5. Among their 22 hits are a HR, 2 doubles, and 2 singles by Babe Ruth, who scores 5 runs and drives in 8. The Babe's home run is a 2-run shot in the first inning off Walter Johnson. Rookie Bill Morrell debuts in relief for the Senators and this is noteworthy only because contemporary accounts list his age at 26, and his birth year as 1900. In fact, Morrell was born in 1893, making him off by seven years, a possible ML record. Later encyclopedias will carry his correct birth date. (as noted by Dick Thompson)
Apr 13, 1926 - In ceremonies before the Opener in St. Louis‚ Rogers Hornsby receives a trophy from the Cleveland Press‚ which asked its readers to choose their most popular AL and NL player. Babe Ruth won in the AL. Hornsby then collects 3 hits as the Cards win the Opener with Pittsburgh‚ 7-6.
Sep 26, 1925 - Babe Ruth gives New York a 6-5 win over the White Sox when he hits an ultimate grand slam‚ off Sarg Connally‚ in the 10th inning. It is a first in the AL and the first this century.
Sep 24, 1925 - At Yankee Stadium‚ Babe Ruth hits a 10th inning grand slam with the Yankees down by 3 runs to give New York a 6-5 win. It is the first so-called ultimate grand slam this century‚ and the only one in the AL that will come in extra innings (according to David Vincent). The next ultimate HR by a Yankee will also come in extra innings-Jason Giambi's 14th inning blow in 2002. Ruth's blow‚ off Sarge Connally in relief of Red Faber‚ makes a winner of starter Ben Shields.
Sep 10, 1925 - Bob Meusel‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Lou Gehrig hit successive homers in the 4th inning of game one versus the A's‚ all off Sammy Gray. New York wins‚ 7-3. Then‚ Ruth and OF Ben Paschal hit back-to-back homers in the 4th of game 2‚ but New York loses‚ 5-4.
Sep 7, 1925 - After apologizing to his teammates yesterday‚ Babe Ruth makes his first appearance in a week‚ collecting one hit in a 5-1 loss to the Red Sox.
Aug 29, 1925 - After a night on the town‚ Babe Ruth shows up late for batting practice. Miller Huggins suspends Ruth and slaps a $5‚000 fine on him for disobeying orders on the field and team rules off the field. In the showdown between the Bambino and the tiny manager‚ Jake Ruppert backs up his manager. Ruth is forced to apologize before he's reinstated 9 days later. The day after his return to the lineup‚ Ruth hits HR number 300.
Aug 9, 1925 - For the only time in his career‚ Babe Ruth is lifted for a pinch hitter. Bobby Veach hits for the Babe‚ suffering from a sore back‚ and flies out‚ and New York loses 4-3 in 12 innings. The Yanks will waive Veach (.353)‚ along with P Alex Ferguson‚ on August 17th‚ and the Senators will pick him up for pennant insurance..
Jul 10, 1925 - In Chicago‚ Babe Ruth's two run homer‚ his 8th of the year‚ is enough as the Yankees top the White Sox‚ 5-3 in a game stopped by rain in the 9th inning. Herb Pennock bags the win over Mike Cvengros.
Apr 17, 1925 - With the newspaper headlines blaring "The bellyache heard round the world"‚ Babe Ruth undergoes surgery for an intestinal abscess.
Apr 14, 1925 - With Ben Paschal filling in for the ailing Babe Ruth in RF‚ the Yankees defeat the Senators‚ 5-1 before 45‚000 at Yankee Stadium. Paschal fills the Babe's shoes by belting a two-run homer and an RBI single. Urban Shocker‚ back with New York after 7 years‚ is the starter and winner for New York. Because of the cold weather‚ the Nats go with George Mogridge‚ instead of Walter Johnson‚ and he allows 9 hits in 7 innings while taking the loss.
Sep 8, 1924 - Washington‚ with a 2-game lead in the AL‚ beats the A's 8-4. Despite giving up solo HRs by Joe Hauser and Bing Miller‚ Walter Johnson's wins his 10th straight and his 20th of the year‚ For Hauser‚ trailing Babe Ruth in the home run race‚ it's his 3rd four bagger of the year off Johnson.
Aug 28, 1924 - Babe Ruth belts two HRs‚ but the Senators beat the Yankees 11-6 by scoring 8 runs in the 8th inning‚ and move into sole possession of first place. Goose Goslin hits for the cycle for Washington. The Yankees will tie the Nationals for 2 days in September‚ but otherwise the Senators stay on top till the end.
Jul 28, 1924 - The Yankees take a pair from the White Sox‚ winning the opener‚ 8-3 behind Bush. They score 10 runs in the first inning in the nitecap‚ then hang on for a 12-10 win. After the Yanks bat around‚ Babe Ruth greets reliever Mike Cvengros with a 3-run HR‚ his 31st.
Jul 26, 1924 - At Chicago‚ Babe Ruth strikes out with the sacks full in the 9th‚ then belts a game-winning HR in the 14th‚ off Sam Jones‚ to give the Yankees a 5-4 win over the Sox.
Jul 5, 1924 - Babe Ruth is 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored to lead New York to a 2-0 win over Walter Johnson and Washington.
Jun 13, 1924 - In the last of a three-game series‚ the first-place Yankees take a 10-6 lead in the top of the 9th. With one out Babe Ruth takes a pitch in close before fouling out‚ then Bob Meusel is hit in the back with a pitch by reliever Bert Cole‚ and charges the mound. Players from both teams start swinging‚ with Ruth and Cobb pushing each other. Fans rush out of the stands‚ eager to mix it up with players‚ police‚ and each other. The fight goes on for nearly 30 minutes before umpire Billy Evans‚ unable to clear the field‚ finally forfeits the game to New York. Cole and Meusel are suspended for 10 days; Meusel is fined $100‚ and Cole and Ruth $50 each.
May 14, 1924 - It is Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium‚ as Ruth receives the AL MVP Award for 1923. He is then held to a single as the Browns spoil the occasion with an 11-1 win.
Apr 20, 1924 - In Washington‚ Walter Johnson picks up an easy 12-3 win over the Yankees. Babe Ruth scores 2 of the New York runs on a triple and an 8th inning home run.
Oct 23, 1923 - Babe Ruth makes a post-season appearance in a Giants uniform‚ as the Giants defeat the Baltimore Orioles 9-0. Ruth hits a HR over the RF roof at the Polo Grounds. The game is a benefit for destitute former Giants owner John Day.
Oct 16, 1923 - Soon after Babe Ruth receives his WS winner's share of $6‚160.46‚ insurance agent Harry Heilmann‚ who beat Ruth for the batting title by 10 points‚ sells him a $50‚000 life insurance policy. Beneficiaries are Mrs. Ruth and adopted daughter Dorothy.
Oct 15, 1923 - After Babe Ruth's first-inning HR‚ the Giants peck away at Herb Pennock for 4 runs and take a 4-1 lead into the 8th. With one out‚ Art Nehf loads the bases on 2 singles and a walk‚ then walks in a run. Reliever Rosy Ryan forces in another run with a walk to Joe Dugan. Ruth strikes out‚ but Bob Meusel raps a single that scores the go-ahead runs. Sam Jones holds off the Giants‚ and the Yankees have their first World Championship.
Oct 11, 1923 - Babe Ruth hits 2 HRs‚ and Aaron Ward one‚ as Herb Pennock (19-6) scatters 9 hits for a 4-2 Yankee win at the Polo Grounds.
Sep 24, 1923 - Detroit pitcher Ray Francis‚ with a 3-0 lead over the Yankees‚ issues a bases loaded walk to Babe Ruth‚ but hangs on for the victory.
Sep 21, 1923 - Babe Ruth is the unanimous choice of the AL committee of baseball writers for the MVP award.
Sep 4, 1923 - Yankee Sam Jones no-hits the Athletics‚ 2-0‚ beating Bob Hasty. Babe Ruth makes the only strikeout of the game as he slips a point behind Detroit's Harry Heilmann in the batting race. Not till Ken Holtzman's no-hitter in 1969‚ will another pitcher record a no-hitter with no strikeouts.
Aug 20, 1923 - At Comiskey Park‚ the Yanks are winning a laugher‚ 16-5‚ when a dog wanders onto left field in the 9th inning. Babe Ruth briefly plays with the pup‚ then tosses his mitt to chase it away. The dog promptly grabs the mitt and takes off at the same moment that Sox rookie pitcher Paul Castner lofts a fly to left. Babe casually catches the fly bare handed.
Aug 17, 1923 - The Yanks edge the Browns‚ 5-4 at St. Louis. Ruth hits his 31st homer in the 1st and adds a double in the 8th. After 111 games‚ Babe Ruth is hitting .401 with 31 HRs. He'll wind up with his highest BA‚ .393. With 205 hits‚ a ML record 170 walks‚ and 4 times hit by pitches‚ Ruth will reach base a record 379 times.
Aug 11, 1923 - The Tigers beat the Yanks‚ 10-4‚ in a series that features the top 2 AL hitters. Babe Ruth goes 3-for-8 against the Tigers‚ while Harry Heilmann is 5-for-10 against the Yanks. The two are neck and neck at .390 for the year. After the game‚ AL President Ban Johnson rules that Babe Ruth must give up his Sam Crawford bat‚ made for him by the future Hall of Famer. The bat is "four pieces of seasoned wood‚ carefully glued together." On August 21‚ Johnson rules that only one-piece bats will be allowed‚ a rule that also affects Ken Williams‚ who is using a plugged bat.
Aug 1, 1923 - Stepping in against the Indians Sherrod Smith in the 9th inning‚ Babe Ruth starts off batting righthanded. After taking a strike‚ he switches to LH and hits his 25th HR of the season. The Indians still win‚ 5-3. The Babe will again bat righty 4 days later.
Jul 3, 1923 - For the 2nd time this season‚ Babe Ruth clouts a game-winning homer in the 15th inning‚ this one off former Yankee George Mogridge. The Yankees beat the Senators‚ 2-1. The winner is Joe Bush‚ who pitches all 15 innings and accounts for the other New York run with a homer.
May 22, 1923 - Babe Ruth breaks a 1-1 tie between the Yanks and White Sox by clouting a 2-run homer in the 15th inning. The blow breaks up a tense pitching duel between little Mike Cvengosa and Herb Pennock‚ who goes all the way giving up just 4 hits. The Yanks have now won 12 of 13 contests in their western swing.
Apr 24, 1923 - President Warren G. Harding attends the game at Yankee Stadium and sees Babe Ruth hit a HR in a 4-0 win over the Senators‚ the first shutout in the new stadium.
Apr 18, 1923 - On a balmy spring day‚ the debut of Yankee Stadium is a huge success with an announced attendance of 74‚217. Another 25‚000 are turned away. Police arrest two for scalping: one man for trying to sell a $1.10 grandstand ticket for $1.25‚ while another tries to get $1.50. Governor Al Smith throws out the first ball. Bob Shawkey‚ aided by Babe Ruth's 3-run clout in the 3rd inning‚ beats Howard Ehmke and the Red Sox 4-1. Ruth hits the first home run in the Stadium and also makes the first error. Shawkey allows 3 hits‚ including a run-scoring triple in the 7th by former Yank Norm McMillan.
Oct 30, 1922 - The Giants pay $65‚000 and 3 players to Baltimore for Jack Bentley‚ "another Babe Ruth." Bentley hit .349 and was 13-1 as a pitcher in 1922 (41-5 since 1920). The 3 players are to be delivered by March 20‚ 1923‚ and if not satisfactory to Baltimore‚ the Giants will pay $2‚500 per man instead.
Sep 4, 1922 - At the start of the day‚ both New York teams are on top‚ and both Boston teams are on the bottom. But today‚ the Red Sox will take 2 and knock the leaders off their perch as they sweep the Yankees‚ 4-3 and 6-5. Babe Ruth hits his last regular season HR‚ in the Polo Grounds. He gets it off Herb Pennock‚ who also gave up Ruth's first Yankee homer‚ also at the Polo Grounds.
Aug 30, 1922 - After hitting HR No. 28 in the first inning‚ Babe Ruth argues too strongly over a called strike on his next AB‚ and he is thrown out of the game by Tommy Connolly. He'll be suspended for the 5th time of the year‚ and is out for 3 days. New York wins today's battle with Wahsington‚ 5-4, overcoming a pair of homeruns by Frank Brower.
Aug 29, 1922 - In Washington‚ Wally Pipp in the 3rd and Babe Ruth in the 4th‚ hit solo HRs off Walter Johnson as New York wins‚ 3-1. Sam Jones is the winner.
Jul 26, 1922 - In several pregame fights between Yankees teammates‚ Bob Meusel and Wally Schang duke it out in the dugout. Then Babe Ruth and Wally Pipp take a turn. The players then turn on the Browns‚ beating them 11-6. Ruth bangs two homers‚ Pipp adds another‚ and Schang chips in with a two-run triple.
Jul 12, 1922 - Hub Pruett fans Babe Ruth 3 times as the Browsn top New York‚ 7-4. Two bases-loaded singles in the 8th score 4 runs for the Browns. Tomorrow's game will be rained out and the Yankees will win on the 14th to stay a half game back.
Jul 11, 1922 - In the first of 4 games at Yankee Stadium‚ the Yankees edge the first-place Browns‚ 2-1‚ as the Browns hand New York two "home runs." Aaron Ward hits a liner that bounces off the glove of a leaping Ken Williams and goes into the LF stands for a home run. In the 6th Tobin makes 2 errors on one play as he drops a Babe Ruth fly ball near the RF foul line allowing Babe to take second. Babe continues to 3B and a surprised Tobin then bounces his throw into the stands behind third allowing Ruth to score the tie breaker. Urban Shocker is the loser as the Browns lead is cut to a half game.
Jun 19, 1922 - In the Yankees 8th straight loss‚ a 3-2 decision to the Indians‚ Babe Ruth explodes at umpire Bill Dinneen and gets tossed. He'll receive a two-day suspension‚ his 4th suspension of the year‚ when he continues to complain tomorrow about the umpire. Again‚ it was a call at 2B that sets the Bambino off‚ although he was in the field this time.
Jun 12, 1922 - Brown's rookie Herb Pruett K's Babe Ruth 3 times enroute to a 7-1 win over the Yankees. He allows 6 hits. Ruth will go 2-for-13 with 10 K's against the less-than-hard throwing southpaw‚ who will finish his career with a 29-48 record. The Browns collect 9 hits including 2 homers off Bullet Joe Bush-a 2-run homer in the 1st by Williams and a solo by John Tobin-in pinning the only loss that Bush will suffer against St. Louis. Bush will get revenge on his next outing‚ running up a winning streak of 17 against the Browns.
Jun 10, 1922 - In St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth's 2-run homer in the 3rd‚ off Urban Shocker‚ ties the game. Shocker then plunks Frank Baker‚ and a double‚ single‚ two errors on the same play‚ and sac fly score 4 more. Shocker then sends Carl Mays sprawling on 3 straight pitches before walking him‚ and fires his 1st pitch right at Whitey Witt. The Yanks score 6 off Shocker‚ and another 6 off relievers to win‚ 14-5. A foul fly in the 7th beans St. Louis owner Phil Ball‚ sitting behind the dugout. He has a slight concussion and requires 4 stitches.
May 25, 1922 - Babe Ruth is suspended one day and fined $200 for throwing dirt on ump George Hildebrand after being called out at 2B while trying to stretch a single in the 3rd. Babe then goes into the stands after a heckler and is restrained by GM Ed Barrow. On his way to the CF clubhouse Ruth gestures to another heckler in RF. Babe gets stripped of his title as team captain as a result. New York beats the visiting Nationals‚ 6-4.
May 22, 1922 - Down 3-0 to the Browns' Vangilder‚ Babe Ruth finally puts the Yankees on the board with a homer in the 8th. The Yankees win in the 13th when Ev Scott's single off Hub Pruett scores Bob Meusel.
May 20, 1922 - Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel (and since-traded pitcher Bill Piercy)‚ suspended on October 16‚ 1921‚ by Judge Landis‚ are reinstated and return to the New York lineup going hitless in New York's 8-2 loss to the rallying Browns at the Polo Grounds. The Browns‚ down 2-0 after 7‚ score one in the 8th and 7 in the 9th‚ six of them coming after the game-ending out is called by ump Ollie Chill at first base. Pitcher Sam Jones‚ taking the throw at 1B from Wally Pipp‚ apparently makes the 3rd out and fans swarm the field. But Jones does not hold onto the ball cleanly and plate ump Brick Owens instructs Chill to make a safe call. The tying run scores on the play and‚ when the action resumes 15 minutes later‚ Wally Gerber singles to make the score 3-2. Walks to Sisler and Williams force home another run‚ and Baby Doll Jacobson clears the bases with a grand slam into the RF stands to complete the scoring. Winner Urban Shocker allows just three hits‚ including a two-run homer by second baseman Aaron Ward. The loss to Jones starts him on a 10-game losing streak‚ while a cold Ban Johnson will let umpire Ollie Chill go after the season.
Mar 6, 1922 - Babe Ruth signs for 3 years at $52‚000 a year. The-next-highest paid New York player is Home Run Baker at $16‚000.
Dec 22, 1921 - Socks Seybold‚ the holder of the AL season HR record before Babe Ruth‚ dies at 51 when his car plunges over an embankment.
Oct 9, 1921 - After a rainout, a Sunday crowd of 36,371 watches Carl Mays and Phil Douglas square off for game 4. Mays works 5 hitless innings, while a run-scoring triple by Wally Schang gives the Yanks a 1–0 lead. Mays then apparently tires and the Giants club 7 hits in the last 2 innings for 4 runs. Babe Ruth’s first WS homer comes in the 9th, but the Giants win 4–2. A group of Prohibition agents cause a near-riot by trying to barge their way into the game by saying they were on “official business.” When ticket takers refuse to let them in the police are called to forcibly remove the agents from the line, “as angry fans look on” (Dry Manhattan). Tomorrow, federal Prohibition Commissioner Roy Haynes will issue orders barring agents from using their badges to gain admission to places of amusement.
Oct 1, 1921 - After clinching the pennant with a 5-3 win over Philadelphia in the opener behind Carl Mays' 17th straight win over Philadelphia‚ the Yankees bring Babe Ruth into pitch in relief in the night cap. Ruth‚ with just one other pitching appearance all season‚ takes over in the 8th with New York in the lead 6-0. Ruth quickly allows the A's 6 runs to tie the score‚ but then knuckles down to hold them scoreless to the 11th when New York scores a run to win‚ 7-6. Ruth drives in his 167th run in the game‚ besting Sam Thompson's mark set in 1884. For Mays‚ it is his 7th straight win over Philley this season.
Sep 15, 1921 - Babe Ruth hits HR No. 55 in New York's 10-6 win over the Browns. The Yanks take game 2‚ 13-5.
Sep 3, 1921 - Powered by Babe Ruth's 50th homer and the pitching of Carl Mays‚ the Yankees down the host Senators‚ 9-3.
Jul 27, 1921 - In an exhibition game in Cincinnati‚ Babe Ruth is 3-for-5 with 6 RBIs. One of his hits is a homer to dead center‚ the first ball ever to clear the CF fence at Crosley Field. In his next at bat‚ Ruth hits an even longer smash that reaches the bleachers in dead CF. The next to clear the CF wall will be Ethan Allen in 1929. Ruth strikes out on 3 change-ups against rookie P Pete Donohue‚ who is so excited he goes to the wrong bench. For Donohue‚ he will later say this was one of his most memorable moments.
Jul 12, 1921 - In St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth hits 2 homers including his 137th career HR‚ passing 19th-century star Roger Connor's record 136. He adds a double as the Yanks win‚ 6-4.
Jun 25, 1921 - In Washington‚ Babe Ruth hits a 2-run HR in the 5th off Walter Johnson‚ but Washington beats the Yankees‚ 6-4. Bob Shawkey is the loser.
Jun 8, 1921 - Babe Ruth is arrested for speeding in New York‚ fined $100‚ and held in jail until 4:00 P.M. Game time is 3:15‚ so a uniform is taken to him. He changes in jail and follows a police escort to the ballpark where he enters with New York trailing 3-2. They rally for a 4-3 win.
Jun 3, 1921 - Babe Ruth has a single‚ double‚ and homer in a 9-8 loss to the Browns. This is his 119th homer‚ tying Gavvy Cravath for the all-time record.
May 25, 1921 - In St. Louis‚ the Browns overcome Babe Ruth's 13th HR of the year to win‚ 7-6. The Babe's blow travels an estimated 500 feet.
Apr 25, 1921 - In New York‚ Washington's Walter Johnson survives a first inning solo shot by Babe Ruth to top Carl Mays‚ 5-3‚ for his 307th career win‚ breaking Eddie Plank's AL mark.
Apr 13, 1921 - In the season opener for the Yankees‚ warm weather and Babe Ruth contribute to 37‚000 fans crowding the Polo Grounds. After New York mayor John Hylan tosses out the first ball‚ the Yankees tear into the A's‚ beating them 11-1 as every New Yorker scores at least a run. The Yanks lead is only 2-1 into the bottom of the 7th‚ but then they unload against Scott Perry. Bob Hasty gives up the last 6 New York runs. Ruth is 5-for-5‚ with two doubles‚ and Carl Mays has as many hits-3-as he allows. He's now won 11 straight over the A's.
Sep 29, 1920 - Babe Ruth hits HR number 54 in Philadelphia as the Yankees win 7-2. That is more than any other team total except the Phils. He is responsible for 241 of his team's 838 runs‚ even though he misses 12 games‚ with a modern record 158 runs scored‚ beating Ty Cobb's 147 in 1911.
Sep 27, 1920 - Carl Mays and the Yankees beat the A's‚ 3-0‚ as Mays allows just 4 hits. It is his 3rd straight shutout over Philadelphia and his 10th straight win against them. Babe Ruth drives in all the runs on a pair of homers over the RF fence off Rommel‚ his 52nd and 53rd homers of the campaign. He hit 2 other liners to left and center that were close to the wall.
Sep 24, 1920 - In the first game of a twinbill‚ Babe Ruth hits his 50th HR in the first inning‚ off the Senators Jose Acosta. He then adds number 51 in a 4-for-4 second game‚ a 2-1 win‚ to give the Yankees a sweep. The other 3 hits off loser Shaw are by Phelps.
Sep 19, 1920 - In New York‚ Babe Ruth's movie opens at Madison Square Garden. It has been retitled Heading Home. In St. Louis‚ the Browns beat the Yankees 6-1. The White Sox top the A's to stay 1 1/2 game behind the Tribe.
Aug 10, 1920 - Babe Ruth stretches a 1st inning single into a double‚ but wrenches his right knee sliding into 2B. Cleveland's Elmer Smith smashes a 3rd inning grand slam‚ his 2nd in 11 days‚ off Carl Mays‚ but the Yanks tie in regulation‚ and win it 7-4 in the 10th. The Yanks' win cuts the Indians lead to 2 1/2 games.
Aug 5, 1920 - After losing 3 out of 4 in Chicago‚ the Yanks drop their first game in Detroit‚ 7-1‚ to Howard Ehmke. Babe Ruth supplies the only NY score with a shot in the 7th that clears a wire fence in front of the RF wall and bounced back. The ground rule is it's a HR.
Jul 20, 1920 - With two outs in the 9th‚ the White Sox score four to defeat the Yankees‚ 7-5. The Yanks load the bases in their half of the 9th and fail to score. Babe Ruth poles his 32nd homer in the losing cause. The Yanks come back to win the 2nd game‚ 6-3‚ behind George Mogridge. Ruth is hitless but Wally Pipp hits a homer. The series at the Polo Grounds sets a new attendance record of 120‚000 for the four days.
Jul 15, 1920 - Babe Ruth ties his 1919 record of 29 HRs with a game-winner in the 11th‚ off lefty Bill Burwell‚ to beat the Browns‚ 13-10. The Babe’s blast is the first AL walk off homer under the new rules; Cincinnati Reds' first baseman Jake Daubert’s walk-off homer four days earlier is the only other hit this season.Ruth scores three runs‚ while Pratt has hits in his first four at bats. Wally Pipp homers‚ but the Browns match it with home runs by George Sisler‚ Ken Williams and Tobin. Rip Collins is the winner in relief over Allan Sothoron.
Jul 7, 1920 - Following the Yankee series in Washington‚ Babe Ruth‚ wife Helen‚ OF Frank Gleich‚ C Fred Hofmann‚ and coach Charley O'Leary drive north stopping a few times for drinks. About 3 A.M. near Wawa‚ Pennsylvania‚ Ruth takes a curve too fast and rolls the car into a ditch. Incredibly‚ no one is hurt though headlines tomorrow will proclaim: RUTH REPORTED KILLED IN CAR CRASH.
Jun 24, 1920 - In Columbus‚ Ohio‚ the Yankees play an exhibition game against a semi-pro team‚ winning 10-1. Babe Ruth hits 6 balls out in batting practice‚ including one over the LF fence onto the brewery's roof. He grounds out‚ walks‚ homers far over the RF fence his third at bat. He hits a Texas Leaguer to short left on the next AB‚ but hustles it into a double. He walks his last AB. Babe steals two bases‚ and pitches the bottom of the ninth‚ allowing two hits and the only run. Lefty O'Doul‚ who pitches only 3 2/3 innings in 1920 for NY‚ pitches 8 shutout innings.
Jun 6, 1920 - Carl Mays allows 6 runs-3 unearned-but the Yankee submariner earns his 7th straight win over the Athletics‚ 12-6. Babe Ruth is 3-for-3 with a stolen base to lead the 15-hit attack.
May 27, 1920 - At Fenway Park‚ New York's Bob Shawkey walks in a run in the 4th inning and yells at the umpire George Hildebrand. When play resumes‚ Shawkey takes 5 minutes to tie his shoe on the mound. Then after a called 3rd strike on Harry Hooper‚ he doffs his cap and bows low to the ump. As Shawkey walks past Hildebrand‚ the ump informs him he's out of the game: Shawkey's response is to swing at the ump and Hildebrand then bangs him with his mask. Mays replaces Shawkey and gives up no runs to insure the Yankees' 6-1 win. Shawkey draws a one week suspension and a $200 fine for his theatrics. Additional theatrics are provided by Babe Ruth who clubs homers off Harry Harper and Benn Karr. Ruth has now belted four homers in three days‚ the first 20th century slugger to do so (Ed Williamson is the other slugger‚ in 1884): He'll hit his 11th‚ in tomorrow's double win over the Hubmen.
May 25, 1920 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Yanks top the Tigers 4-3 with Babe Ruth's 2 run HR providing the margin. It's the Babe's 8th HR of the year‚ breaking a tie for the AL lead with Chicago's Happy Felsch.
May 23, 1920 - After a week in bed with illness‚ Babe Ruth returns to belt a two run homer in the 6th‚ off Carl Weilman‚ to give the Yankees a 3-2 win over the visiting Browns. Baby Doll Jacobson's two run homer in the 4th is the only Browns scoring off Bob Shawkey.
May 14, 1920 - The Giants inform the Yankees that after the 1920 season‚ the lease allowing the American Leaguers to play in the Polo Grounds will not be renewed. No reason is given but the recent signing of Babe Ruth appears to be the main cause. Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert responds that the Giants‚ "have gone back on their word." The Giants cave in a week later‚ but by then Ruppert has initiated plans to obtain a site for his own park.
May 1, 1920 - Babe Ruth hits his first HR‚ and the 50th of his career‚ as a Yankee in a 6-0 win over the Red Sox. The HR clears the RF roof of the Polo Grounds‚ duplicating the feat of Joe Jackson. Duffy Lewis adds a homer‚ both coming off Herb Pennock. During the game‚ Yankee bench hecklers Carl Mays‚ Ernie Shore and Frank O'Doul manage to get themselves ejected.
Apr 22, 1920 - The Yankees open their home season with a 8-6 win over the A's‚ but lose Babe Ruth to an injury. The $125‚000 batsman pulls a cartilage in batting practice and‚ after striking out in the 1st‚ has to be assisted off the field. The team announces he'll be out 2 weeks.
Apr 19, 1920 - In the annual Patriots Day doubleheader in Boston‚ the Red Sox take the A.M. game 6-0 in front of 6‚000 fans. In the P.M. game‚ 22‚000 are on hand to watch ex-Red Sox Carl Mays pitch for the Yankees. The Sox don't disappoint‚ cuffing Mays for 4 runs in 7 innings as they win 8-3. Babe Ruth is 3-for-8 for the two games.
Apr 14, 1920 - At Shibe Park‚ Babe Ruth makes his Yankee debut‚ lacing two hits‚ but dropping an easy fly in center that allows two runs to score in the 8th. The A's Scott Perry is the beneficiary of Babe's error‚ winning‚ 3-1 over Bob Shawkey. Each allows 7 hits‚ one homer‚ and a walk. Wally Pipp lofts a homer for New York‚ while Cy Perkins connects for the A's. New York leaves its best pitcher Carl Mays back in New York‚ since there is still a warrant out for his arrest in Philley.
Jan 5, 1920 - The Yankees announce the purchase of Babe Ruth; it had been delayed until Ruth agreed to terms believed to be $40‚000 total for 2 years. (Lawrence Ritter's The Babe‚ has this announcement on January 6‚ 11 days after the deal was consummated.)
Dec 26, 1919 - Although it will not be officially announced until January‚ the Yankees buy Babe Ruth from financially pressed Harry Frazee‚ paying $125‚000 (one-fourth cash‚ plus $25‚000 a year at 6 percent) plus guaranteeing a $300‚000 loan with Fenway Park as collateral.
Sep 20, 1919 - On "Babe Ruth Day" at Fenway‚ 31‚000 jam the park to see the Knights of Columbus of South Boston honor one of their own members between games of the DH with Chicago. Ruth starts on the mound in game 1‚ his first start since September 1‚ and Allan Russell relieves in the 6th inning. With the score tied 3-3 in the 9th‚ Babe‚ now playing LF‚ golfs a outside pitche from Lefty Williams over the LF wall to win the game‚ 4-3 With the hit‚ Ruth ties Ned Williamson's 1884 ML HR mark of 27. Boston takes the nitecap‚ 5-4‚ with Ruth scores the winning run in the 5th. He is deprived of a homer when his 5th inning drive bounces out of the bleachers and ump Billy Evans rules it a double. Evans spots the fans scrambling for the ball and rules it a ground-rule double under the day's temporary ground rules. A petition signed by witnessing fans is brought to Evans by a National Guardsman (filling in for the striking Boston police) but the ump dismisses it.
Sep 8, 1919 - Babe Ruth hits HR No. 26‚ off Hank Thormahlen in New York‚ breaking Buck Freeman's 1899 HR mark of 25. The Red Sox win 3-1 in the opener‚ then win 2-0 in the nitecap behind Waite Hoyt's 3-hitter. Ruth scores both runs for Boston. Buck Freeman‚ now an umpire in the American Association‚ congratulates the Babe on his feat. New York's SS Roger Peckinpaugh ties an AL mark with 15 chances accepted in the first game‚ and 24 in the twinbill. The Tigers object to the 2nd game‚ on the technicality that it was originally scheduled for Boston and had been postponed there.
Sep 5, 1919 - The Red Sox pull off a triple play and bang out 25 hits in downing the A's‚ 15-7. Babe Ruth is 5-for 6 including his 25th homer‚ tying Buck Freeman's record.
Sep 1, 1919 - In the first of two Labor Day games‚ Babe Ruth allows 10 Washington hits‚ but wins 2-1. Ruth drives home one run with a triple. The win is his last in a Red Sox uniform. In the nitecap‚ Ruth's 7th inning homer snaps a 1-1 tie as Boston wins‚ 4-1. It is the Babe's 24th homer.
Aug 24, 1919 - Babe Ruth clouts two homers and adds an RBI single to drive in Harry Hooper in the 11th as the Red Sox defeat the Tigers‚ 8-7.
Aug 23, 1919 - The Tigers pull off a triple steal (Cobb‚ Heilmann and Chris Shorten) but the Red Sox counter with a grand slam by Babe Ruth off Hook Dauss‚ the longest homer ever hit at Navin Field. But that's all the Sox scoring as Detroit wins over Boston‚ 8-4. For the Babe‚ it is his 4th grand slam of the year‚ a Red Sox record not topped this century.
Aug 17, 1919 - In front of a Sportsman's Field record crowd of 27‚000‚ Babe Ruth pitches the Red Sox to a 2-1 win in the opener. It is the Babe's 12th straight win over St. Louis (streak starts 5/24/17). Playing LF in the nitecap‚ Babe clouts a first inning 2-run homer as Boston sweeps‚ 6-1.
Aug 14, 1919 - In Chicago‚ Babe Ruth hits an AL-record No. 17. The 7th inning homer‚ off Erskine Mayer‚ clears the RF wall and lands in a soccer field. Chicago White Sox CF Happy Felsch ties the ML record with 4 assists‚ but Boston beats the White Sox‚ 15-6.
Jul 31, 1919 - Waite Hoyt‚ 19‚ makes his ML debut pitching in place of the departed Mays‚ and hurls a 12 inning 2-1 win over the Tigers. Red Sox teammate Babe Ruth has 2 singles and 2 doubles in 6 trips‚ and his 2-out single off the first baseman's glove in the 12th helps the Sox to victory. Pinch runner McNally‚ running from 1B‚ is caught in a rundown between 3B and home when the umpire rules that Ainsmith interferes with McNally. The interference ruling gives the Sox the winning run.
Jul 29, 1919 - In the 9th inning with two out‚ Detroit P Dutch Leonard walks Braggo Roth to pitch to Babe Ruth‚ who already has hit 2 doubles off him. The two had had an argument in early June at Fenway. The Babe then hits his 9th homer of the month and his 16th of the year‚ a new AL record. Despite the homer‚ Detroit tops the Red Sox‚ 10-8.
Jul 25, 1919 - At Boston‚ the Yankees batter Babe Ruth for 13 hits‚ but lose to the Boston lefty‚ 8-6. Ruth has no strike outs.
Jul 21, 1919 - The Tigers rough up Boston P Babe Ruth‚ scoring 6 runs with the help of two errors by Wally Schang. Down 6-1 in the 9th‚ Babe answers with a tremendous solo shot that lands on Trumbull Avenue‚ the longest home run ever hit at Navin Field.
Jul 18, 1919 - In a Friday game in Cleveland‚ the Indians one-eyed starter Hi Jasper gives up an early 2-run homer to Boston's Babe Ruth‚ but leaves the game in the 8th with the score tied 3-3. Joe Harris then cracks a pinch triple to drive home 3 runs as the Tribe takes a 7-3 lead. When the Sox score a run and Elmer Myers loads the bases on walks‚ manager Lee Fohl signals for another reliever. Tribe CF Speaker protests that it should be a righty‚ but Fohl goes with lefthander Fritz Coumbe‚ who had not pitched since May‚ to pitch to Ruth. The Babe pounds a high curve for a grand slam-his 3rd of the year-and an 8-7 Boston win. After the game‚ owner Jim Dunn fires Fohl‚ replacing him with Tris Speaker‚ who will stay on for 7 years. The first thing Speaker does is ticket Coumbe to the minors.
Jul 17, 1919 - Boston's Babe Ruth returns to the mound for the first time in 3 weeks‚ losing to Cleveland and Guy Morton‚ 4-0. Ruth is forced to pitch because of Joe Bush's arm problems and Carl Mays' jumping the team.
Jul 5, 1919 - The A's rebound from yesterday's twinbill loss to Boston‚ by sweeping two from the Red Sox‚ 5-3 and 8-6. Boston loses the nitecap despite two homers by Babe Ruth-his 1st two-homer game‚ one in the 8th and the 2nd in the 10th. Ruth and Gavvy Cravath lead the majors with 9 apiece.
Jun 30, 1919 - The Yanks sweep two from the Red Sox‚ winning 7-4 in the opener behind Bob Shawkey. Boston gets all its runs on a 6th inning grand slam by 1B Babe Ruth. New York takes the 2nd game‚ 4-2.
Jun 29, 1919 - With Babe Ruth at 1B for the injured Stuffy McInnis‚ Carl Mays shuts out the Yankees‚ 2-0‚ in the first game of a doubleheader in New York. Mays then pitches the 2nd game as well‚ losing a complete game‚ 4-1. Ruth has two hits in each game.
Jun 25, 1919 - The Senators and Red Sox split a twinbill‚ with the Nats pummeling starter Babe Ruth in the opener‚ 8-3‚ and collecting 9 hits and 5 walks off Babe. For the Nats‚ Clyde Milan collects 3 hits and Sam Rice cracks a HR‚ the only Hall of Famer to go deep on the Babe. Walter Johnson allows 5 hits in the nitecap but takes a 1-0 loss. Ruth plays LF in the 2nd game and has a single. After the twinbill‚ Ruth issues an ultimatum to Barrow: pitch me or play me but don't do both. Barrow will give him tomorrow off.
Jun 12, 1919 - Boston's Herb Pennock shuts down the White Sox on 3 hits as the Red Sox win 4-0. LF Babe Ruth doubles off Red Faber to drive in two runs.
Jun 5, 1919 - At Boston‚ Detroit gets on the board first when Cobb triples home Bush in the first‚ but that is all the scoring as the Red Sox win‚ 3-1. Starter Babe Ruth is carried off the field on a stretcher after wrenching his knee sliding into 3B in the 3rd. Carl Mays throws 6 shutout innings for the win.
May 30, 1919 - In the first of 2 in Philadelphia‚ Babe Ruth has 3 hits and pitches the Red Sox to a 10-6 win over the A's. The Babe homers in game 2 over the RF wall‚ the ball landing on top of a roof on 22nd street. The A's win it in the 9th‚ 4-3.
May 27, 1919 - In Boston's 6-4 loss to Cleveland‚ Babe Ruth slams a long triple‚ the first ball hit off the CF screen in Cleveland. Speaker has a pair of doubles for the Tribe.
May 20, 1919 - In the 2nd inning at St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth belts a grand slam‚ his first ever‚ and pitches the Red Sox to a 6-4 win over the Browns. Dave Davenport takes the loss.
May 15, 1919 - Ump George Moriarty ejects Boston P Joe Bush in the top of the 2nd inning‚ and reliever Babe Ruth pitches 11 innings‚ allowing 13 hits‚ to beat the White Sox‚ 6-5.
Apr 27, 1919 - Red Sox P Sam Jones shuts out the Senators‚ 8-0. Left fielder Babe Ruth triples and scores 3 runs.
Apr 23, 1919 - At the Polo Grounds‚ 30‚000 fans watch the Red Sox roll over the Yankees‚ 10-0‚ behind Carl Mays. Babe Ruth bounces a ball over Lewis's head for an inside-the-park homer in his first at bat and drives in 2 runs‚ while Wally Schang has three doubles and a single. Former Sox star Duffy Lewis‚ who missed the 1918 season while serving in the military‚ is hitless in his Yankee debut. George Mogridge takes the loss‚ allowing six runs in the 9th inning when SS Roger Peckinpaugh makes his 2nd and 3rd errors of the game.
Apr 18, 1919 - In an exhibition game against the Orioles (International League)‚ home town boy Babe Ruth slugs four homers in four at bats as the Red Sox win 12-3. Babe walks his other 2 times up.
Apr 4, 1919 - In Tampa‚ the Red Sox begin Grapefruit League play at their new spring training site and edge the Giants 5-3 behind Babe Ruth's 4 RBIs. The Babe clouts a nearly 600-foot homer along with 2 singles. Decades later‚ a plaque will be erected where the homer lands‚ on the present site of the University of Tampa.
Mar 17, 1919 - The Red Sox‚ minus hold outs Carl Mays and Babe Ruth‚ sail from New York aboard the S.S. Arapahoe. The trip to spring training is stormy and most of the players will be seasick. Ruth will sign on the 21st in New York and leave the night for Florida. Mays‚ unsigned will join Ruth and the Sox in Tampa.
Sep 5, 1918 - In order to cut down on the use of trains‚ the first 3 games of the WS are played in Chicago‚ the next 3 in Boston. The Cubs switch their home games to Comiskey Park with its larger seating capacity. Babe Ruth‚ having completed 13 scoreless innings in his first WS 2 years ago‚ adds 9 more in edging Hippo Vaughn 1-0 in the opener. Also‚ when 2B Dave Shean bats for Boston‚ he becomes the oldest player (40 years‚ 3 months‚ 18 days) to play in the WS‚ a mark other graybeards will top.
Aug 24, 1918 - Lefty Leifield holds Boston to just 4 hits‚ including 2 scratch singles‚ but the Browns manage just 5 hits off Red Sox P Babe Ruth and lose‚ 3-1. The Sox score all their runs in the 2nd‚ including one on a swipe of home by Ruth on the front end of another double steal‚ his 2nd steal in two days. It is Ruth's first steal of home and his only swipe of home as a pitcher. Like his future steals of home‚ it comes on a double steal.
Aug 24, 1918 - In Baltimore‚ Babe Ruth's father suffers a fatal concussion in a fight with his brother-in-law outside his saloon. The funeral will be on the 28th and Babe will miss two Sox games.
Aug 18, 1918 - In an exhibition game in New Haven the semi-pro Colonials beat the Red Sox 4-3‚ overcoming a Babe Ruth home run. Ruth's hit is one of the longest ever seen on the Lighthouse grounds. Winning pitcher Frank Woodward's effort results in his being signed by the Phillies.
Aug 17, 1918 - The Red Sox (66-45) increase their lead to 3 games by beating 2nd place Cleveland (64-49) 4-2‚ at Boston. Babe Ruth scatter five hits for the win over Guy Morton and reliever Bagby. The Sox will win the next game‚ on Monday (19th)‚ in the series‚ 6-0‚ to go 4 games up.
Aug 12, 1918 - At Fenway‚ the Yankees win their 10th of 15 games with the league leaders by beating Boston‚ 2-1. Getting his opportunity because of the war‚ lefty Hank Robinson is making his first ML start since 1915. He allows just 3 hits in besting Babe Ruth‚ who gives up 4 safeties. Jack Fournier scores the winning run on a squeeze bunt‚ while Ruth‚ hitless on the afternoon‚ pops out for the last out of the game.
Aug 4, 1918 - In Cleveland‚ the Indians split with the league-leading Red Sox‚ to take three out of four in the series. The Sox win the opener‚ 2-1 in 12 innings‚ with starter Babe Ruth going the distance and allowing just 4 hits. Ruth drives in the first run with a single‚ and the Tribe ties the game in the 8th with two hits. Cleveland takes the nitecap‚ 2-0‚ in a game called after 6 innings because of rain. Ruth‚ playing LF‚ has one hit and is hit once by winner Stanley Coveleskie.
Jul 30, 1918 - Paced by Babe Ruth and Amos Strunk‚ each with 3 hits‚ the Red Sox light up 5 Brownie pitchers to beat St. Louis‚ 14-5. Sam Jones is the winner.
Jul 29, 1918 - Back in the rotation‚ Babe Ruth tops the Browns‚ 3-2‚ for the first place Red Sox‚ allowing just 4 hits. Ruth has a triple and one RBI at the plate.
Jul 17, 1918 - The Red Sox sweep two from the Browns‚ shutting St. Louis out in both games. Joe Bush takes the first game‚ 7-0‚ and Babe Ruth follows‚ 4-0‚ while adding two doubles in two trips to the plate.
Jul 11, 1918 - The first-place Red Sox top Chicago‚ 4-0‚ with Carl Mays outpitching Ed Cicotte. Cicotte gives up 9 hits‚ including 3 opposite field doubles to Babe Ruth. Playing 1B‚ the Babe records 20 putouts.
Jul 8, 1918 - Although Babe Ruth's 10th inning blast over the fence in Fenway scores Amos Strunk in the Red Sox win 1-0 over Cleveland‚ the prevailing rules about the winning run scoring ahead of the home run reduce Babe's HR to a triple. The run gives Sad Sam Jones the win over Stanley Coveleskie. Guy Morton gives up 3 Boston hits in the nitecap to beat Carl Mays‚ 4-3. Ruth will hit 11 homers this year‚ all on the road.
Jul 6, 1918 - The Red Sox regain first place‚ beating the Indians‚ 5-4. Pinch hitter Babe Ruth drives in two runs in the 6th inning with a triple and scores the winning run when the relay is fumbled.
Jul 5, 1918 - The A's tie the Red Sox in the 9th‚ only to lose in the 10th‚ 4-3. Starting pitcher Babe Ruth draws a walk off Bob Geary in the 10th and scores the winning run on Stuffy McInnis' triple.
Jul 3, 1918 - Babe Ruth announces that he has joined the Chester team of the Delaware River Shipbuilding League and will not play for Boston. The Red Sox players are unperturbed and the Red Sox management threatens an injunction. Heinie Wagner tracks down the Babe in Baltimore and convinces him to return to the Sox. Meanwhile‚ the Ruth-less Sox unravel‚ losing 6-0 to the A' Vean Gregg. Gregg allows just one hit in the first six innings‚ and four overall.
Jul 2, 1918 - In Washington‚ Red Sox star Babe Ruth quits the team after arguing with manager Ed Barrow. This follows a 3-0 loss to Washington's Harry Harper in which the Babe‚ playing CF‚ goes hitless in two at bats and makes an error. Harry Harper cops his 2nd win in the series and his 7th in a row‚ beating Guy Bush.
Jun 30, 1918 - In the 10th inning in Washington‚ Babe Ruth‚ playing CF‚ hits his 11th HR to beat Walter Johnson 3-1 and boost the Red Sox back into first place. Ruth also cracked a HR off Johnson on May 7‚ the only home runs the Washington ace gives up between September 1917 and May 1920. Carl Mays is the winner‚ striking out 6‚ while Johnson K's one. Ruth will hit no more homers this year‚ but his 11-in just 95 games-will be good enough to share the ML lead with the A's Tilly Walker.
Jun 28, 1918 - Lanky Harry Harper allows one hit-a home run by Babe Ruth-in beating the Red Sox‚ 2-1. Harper was in danger of losing the game until the Senators score a pair in the 8th off Bader.
Jun 26, 1918 - The Yankees top the Red Sox‚ 3-1‚ as Babe Ruth scores the only Sox run following a double. Babe injures his wrist sliding into second base and will repeat the injury tomorrow on the same play.
Jun 25, 1918 - Babe Ruth pounds out his 9th homer of the year‚ off Allan Russell‚ as the Red Sox and Sam Jones beat the Yankees‚ 7-3. It is the Babe's 3rd of the season into the upper deck at the Polo Grounds. But the Yanks will win the next two games to retake first place from Boston.
Jun 15, 1918 - Batting cleanup and playing left field‚ Babe Ruth clubs a three-run homer in the 7th‚ his 8th roundtripper of the year. He drives home another run in the 9th to lead the visiting Red Sox to an 8-4 win over the Browns.
Jun 7, 1918 - The Indians club six Red Sox pitchers for 13 hits in a 14-7 win. Left fielder Babe Ruth‚ with a single and triple at bat‚ comes in to pitch the 7th and walks his only two batters. The two come around to score the tying and winning run‚ handing Ruth (4-5) his 5th loss of the year. The Indians also swipe 7 bases‚ including a triple steal in the 7th inning led by Braggo Roth‚ the 2nd he's led. The battery is Vincent Molyneaux and Wally Schang.
Jun 3, 1918 - Boston lefty Hub Leonard pitches his 2nd no-hitter‚ beating the Tigers' all right-handed lineup in Detroit 5-0‚ and allowing just a first-inning walk. Babe Ruth‚ playing CF for the first time in his career‚ slugs a first-inning HR‚ his 2nd in 2 days. Ty Cobb‚ out a week with an injured shoulder‚ pinch-hits in the 9th and fouls out.
May 10, 1918 - The Red Sox snap their 6-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the hapless Browns. Babe Ruth‚ playing his first game in the OF‚ is 0-for-5 but plays well patrolling "Duffy's Cliff" in left field.
May 9, 1918 - After knocking in the tying run in the 9th with a pinch sac fly‚ Walter Johnson pitches in relief in the 10th inning and picks up his 3rd win in 9 days against Boston‚ a 4-3 win for Washington. The only Red Sox safety in the 10th is a double by losing pitcher‚ starter Babe Ruth‚ who then gets thrown out trying to steal 3B. Ruth allows 11 hits while striking out one: batting cleanup‚ Ruth goes 5-for-5‚ with 3 doubles and a triple‚ and has a ten-game hit streak.
May 7, 1918 - In Washington‚ Babe Ruth hits his 3rd homer in three games‚ a tremendous blast over the RF wall‚ to account for all of the Red Sox scoring in a 7-2 loss to Walter Johnson. It is the first homer in Griffith Stadium this year‚ and the 6th ever over the barrier (Eddie Murphy reportedly hit the 1st‚ which hit the top and bounded over)‚ and earns Babe a big ovation. For Ruth‚ it is the first of 10 homers he'll hit off Walter Johnson. Ruth plays first base today for the 2nd game in a row and will be in the outfield for the first time in his career on May 10th.
May 6, 1918 - At the Polo Grounds‚ Babe Ruth subs for the injured Dick Hoblitzel at first base and bats 6th. It is the first time Ruth hits in any other spot besides 9th. He goes 2-for-4 with a home run as the Sox lose 10-3. Ping Bodie has 5 RBIs as the Yankees sweep the 3-game series.
May 4, 1918 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Yankees lay down a ML record (since tied) of 8 sacrifices‚ 6 coming on bunts‚ and nudge Boston 5-4. The bunting by New York takes advantage of Boston lefty Babe Ruth‚ who is nursing a hangover. Babe makes 2 errors and has 9 assists handling 13 fielding chances. Despite contributing his first homer of the year‚ plus a double‚ Ruth loses to Allan Russell. Boston's 1B Dick Hoblitzell injures his finger‚ and in the next game Ruth will make his first career start as a position player.
Apr 29, 1918 - Boston rolls past Washington‚ 8-1. Babe Ruth allows 5 hits and is 2-for-2 at the plate‚ both doubles‚ plus a stolen base.
Apr 24, 1918 - The A's Vean Gregg shuts out the Red Sox‚ 3-0. George Burns's 3-run homer off Babe Ruth in the bottom of the 8th provides all the scoring.
Apr 19, 1918 - In the annual Patriot's Day twinbill in Boston, new Red Sox pitcher Joe Bush debuts with a 2–1 four-hit win over the Yankees’ saliva slinger Allan Russell in the a.m. game. The Red Sox (5-0) complete the sweep in the afternoon with a 9–5 win behind Babe Ruth's 13-hitter. Ruth further contributes a single and a long RBI fly to right that scores Everett Scott from 2B after the Frank Gilhooley catch. The Yankees help with six errors in the game, three by Del Pratt, who offsets them with four hits.
Apr 15, 1918 - The AL season opens with Boston's Babe Ruth pitching a 4-hit‚ 7-1‚ victory over the A's‚ his 3rd opening day victory in a row. Willie Adams‚ pitching his first ML game since 1913‚ takes the loss. Red Sox manager Ed Barrow will start Ruth's conversion to slugger by working him into 72 games as OF-1B.
Apr 1, 1918 - In Dallas‚ the Red Sox edge the Brooklyn Robins‚ 7-6‚ in 16 innings. Starters Rube Marquard and Babe Ruth are both gone after five innings‚ but not before the Babe strikes out left-handed‚ then right-handed‚ against Rube.
Oct 3, 1917 - After six losses to Babe Ruth‚ including three by 1-0 scores (one in 13 innings)‚ Walter Johnson finally emerges a winner against the Boston lefty. Johnson contributes a bases loaded double in the 8th to help visiting Washington win 6-0. Ruth gives up 11 hits and his ERA balloons to 2.01 for the year.
Sep 29, 1917 - Babe Ruth coasts to his 6th shutout of the year‚ an 11-0 pasting of the Browns. He also leads the offense with 3 hits and 3 runs scored.
Sep 27, 1917 - The Red Sox play a benefit game against an AL all-star team and Babe Ruth and Rube Foster combine for a 2-0 shutout. The AL squad features Cobb‚ Speaker‚ and Jackson in the outfield. More than $14‚000 is raised for the family of sports writer Tim Murnane‚ who died February 13th. Murnane had played and managed in Boston in the 19th century. Actress Fanny Brice helps sell programs and former heavyweight champ John L. Sullivan coaches 3B for the Sox. Ruth wins the fungo hitting contest with a drive of 402 feet‚ while Joe Jackson has the longest throw at an impressive 396'8" feet. Duffy Lewis is second and Tilly Walker is third. Ray Chapman circles the bases in 14 seconds flat to win a loving cup.
Sep 24, 1917 - Babe Ruth shuts out the champion White Sox‚ 3-0‚ scattering nine hits. The Babe is 0-for-3 at the plate.
Sep 21, 1917 - In Boston‚ the White Sox clinch the pennant with a 2-1 win in 10 innings. Pinch-hitting in the bottom of the 10th‚ Babe Ruth grounds into a game-ending DP.
Sep 15, 1917 - At the Polo Grounds‚ Boston's Babe Ruth takes an 8-0 lead into the 9th before allowing 3 Yankee runs. He finishes with a complete game 8-3 win and slugs his 2nd and last homer of the season.
Sep 4, 1917 - The Yankees split a pair with Boston‚ losing 4-2 to Babe Ruth in the opener‚ then beating Carl Mays‚ 7-3. Ruth allows no hits until the 6th inning and just 5 hits overall.
Aug 31, 1917 - At Fenway‚ Babe Ruth wins his 20th‚ beating the A's‚ 5-3. Ruth gives up 6 hits and walks 5.
Aug 27, 1917 - At Detroit‚ Ty Cobb is 3-for-4 to lead the Tigers to a 5-1 win over the Red Sox and lefty Babe Ruth.
Aug 10, 1917 - Babe Ruth beats the Tigers‚ 5-4‚ giving up just 4 hits. The Babe's drive into the CF bleachers‚ said to be the longest hit at Fenway‚ is the difference. The homer is Babe's first of the year.
Jul 30, 1917 - In 100 degree heat the host Red Sox top the White Sox‚ 3-1‚ behind Babe Ruth's 4-hitter. Chicago bunches three of the 4 hits in the 3rd‚ including an RBI triple by Joe Jackson. With the win‚ the Red Sox move percentage points behind 1st place Chicago.
Jul 19, 1917 - In Chicago‚ Babe Ruth opens a 5-game series with the front-running Chisox‚ by pitching 2nd-place Boston to a 3-2 win.
Jul 11, 1917 - In Detroit‚ Boston's Babe Ruth tops the Tigers 1-0‚ allowing just Donie Bush's scratch single in the 8th. Ruth deflects the ball but the throw by the shortstop is too late. Ruth has a single and triple‚ but a pinch triple by Chick Shorten in the 9th drives home the only run. Ruth strikes out Veach Crawford and Cobb in the 9th; For the last he shakes off catcher and player/manager Carrigan. In early 1942‚ in a speech in Los Angeles‚ Ruth will call this game his greatest thrill. [the Babe also relates to writer John Carmichael that his greatest game was the called shot in the WS of 1932.]
Jun 23, 1917 - In the memorable first of two games at Boston‚ Babe Ruth starts for the Red Sox and walks the leadoff man‚ griping to plate umpire Brick Owens after each pitch. On ball 4‚ Ruth plants a right to the umpire's jaw and is ejected. Ernie Shore hastily relieves and Sam Agnew takes over behind the plate for Pinch Thomas. The runner Ray Morgan is then caught stealing by Agnew‚ and Shore retires all 26 men he faces in a 4-0 win‚ getting credit in the books for a perfect game. Ruth is fined $100‚ and draws a 10-day suspension. Agnew is 3-for-3 at the plate. In the nitecap‚ Boston's Dutch Leonard then beats Walter Johnson‚ 5-0.
Jun 18, 1917 - On Bunker Hill Day‚ the Red Sox celebrate by sweeping two from the White Sox‚ 6-4 and 8-7. In the afternoon game‚ Chicago loses a 3-run lead in the 9th when the Sox use three singles‚ two errors and a passed ball to score four runs. Carl Mays and Herb Pennock are the winners‚ while Babe Ruth is limited to a pinch hitting appearance in game 2. Bosox players Ernie Shore and assistant-manager Heinie Wagner are notified that they are suspended indefinitely for arguments voiced during Friday's game. Chicago players Weaver and McMullin are served warrants for assault during the game. The charges were made "by Augustin J. McNally of Norwood‚ a nearby suburb." McNally was one of the mob which attempted to break up the game and "during the fussing‚ is supposed to have bumped McMullin's fist with his eye. . . and to have had his fingers on the railing just when Weaver let his bat fall." The case is defaulted tomorrow as the players return to Chicago and‚ although the original plan was to have a hearing the next month when the White Sox are in Boston‚ it will be quietly dismissed.
Jun 1, 1917 - Guy Morton of Cleveland finally stops the Red Sox. shutting them out‚ 3-0‚ on one hit (a rifle shot over 2B by rival P Babe Ruth in the 8th). Ray Chapman and Braggo Roth both steal home in the 4th‚ but Ruth allows just one hit until the 9th.
May 29, 1917 - The visiting Red Sox sweep two from the Senators‚ winning 2-1 behind Dutch Leonard‚ and 9-0 behind Babe Ruth. The Sox will sweep two more tomorrow.
May 15, 1917 - In Cleveland‚ P Babe Ruth is lifted with one out in the 6th and the Red Sox leading 6-5. Dutch Leonard then shuts down the Indians to preserve the victory‚ and he is awarded the win by the official scorer. The decision is eventually reversed‚ giving Ruth his 8th straight win. The White Sox will stop his streak on the 18th.
May 11, 1917 - In Detroit‚ the Red Sox win 2-1 behind Babe Ruth. Ty Cobb leads off Detroit's 9th with a bunt single‚ and when the next batter grounds out to 3B‚ Cobb rounds 2B and continues towards third. Ruth‚ covering 3B‚ takes the throw and tags out Cobb so viciously that the star is on the ground for two minutes.
May 7, 1917 - Red Sox P Babe Ruth allows just 2 singles in outpitching Washington's Walter Johnson. Ruth knocks in the only run with an 8th inning sacrifice fly. Ruth strikes out 3‚ while Johnson fans 7 and gives up 4 hits. It is the 3rd time that Johnson has lost to Ruth by a 1-0 score. Ruth is now 6-0 with six complete games.
Apr 21, 1917 - In Boston's Opener‚ James Curley tosses out the first ball and Babe Ruth then beats the Yankees again‚ 6-4‚ on 9 hits. At bat‚ the Babe is 3-for-3 with a triple and two doubles.
Apr 11, 1917 - In pregame drills before the Yankees Opening Day at the Polo Grounds‚ the Yankees impress General Leonard Wood by marching in drills. The Sox‚ having not practiced‚ decline‚ but then drill New York 10-3 in the game. Boston breaks a 3-3 tie with four runs in the 7th‚ three coming home on round tripper by Dick Hoblitzell. Tilly Walker adds a double‚ two triples and 4 RBIs for Boston‚ while Babe Ruth allows just three hits‚ all singles‚ in beating Ray Caldwell.
Mar 25, 1917 - Babe Ruth pitches four innings against Brooklyn‚ allowing just one hit‚ before giving way to a group of inept Red Sox relievers. Brooklyn wins‚ 11-2‚ and reigns as "Hot Springs Champs."
Dec 8, 1916 - The National Commission fines 51 players $25 to $100 for performing in post-season exhibitions. Among the guilty: Babe Ruth‚ Jack Barry‚ Duffy Lewis‚ 10 other Red Sox players‚ and Ty Cobb.
Oct 9, 1916 - After a Sunday off‚ Babe Ruth outpitches Sherry Smith to win game 2 of the WS 2-1 in 14 innings. Both starters go the distance with Smith allowing 7 hits‚ Ruth giving up 6. According to the Boston Traveler‚ each starter throws 148 pitches. Ruth allows one run in the first‚ a homer by CF Hy Myers that skips by Harry Hooper. It is only homer off Ruth this year. Only two Robins reach base after the 8th‚ one on a walk and another on an error. This is the start of 29 2?3 scoreless World Series innings pitched by Ruth.
Sep 29, 1916 - Boston Red Sox P Babe Ruth closes the season with his 23rd win‚ topping New York 3-0. It is his 9th shutout and reduces his ERA to 1.75. In 324 IP he gave up no HRs. The 9 shutouts is a record for lefties that will be unmatched in the AL until Ron Guidry ties it in 1978.
Sep 25, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth is 2-for-3 and shuts out Cleveland‚ 2-0‚ on 7 hits.
Sep 17, 1916 - At Comiskey Park‚ Boston lefty Babe Ruth wins his 20th‚ beating Red Faber and the White Sox‚ 6-2. A crowd of 40‚000 is on hand‚ the largest turnout to date in Chicago history.
Sep 12, 1916 - Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth‚ both pitching on 2 days rest‚ square off. Washington scores 2 runs in the 9th when John Henry lines a bases loaded double off Ruth to tie the game‚ 2-2. Boston scores in the 10th‚ but Washington tallies twice off Ernie Shore to win‚ 4-3. Johnson is the winner.
Sep 9, 1916 - In Washington‚ Boston's Babe Ruth tops the Senators and Walter Johnson‚ 2-1. Ruth gives up 4 hits while Johnson allows 8. It is the Babe's 4th win this season versus Johnson. Washington wins the nitecap‚ 4-3‚ in 10 innings.
Sep 4, 1916 - At New York‚ the Yankees and Red Sox split. Boston wins the opener‚ 7-1‚ behind Babe Ruth‚ while New York scores in the 9th to win the nitecap‚ 4-3.
Aug 31, 1916 - At Boston‚ the Browns Ernie Koob beats the Red Sox and Babe Ruth‚ 2-1. Ruth makes 2 hits and scores the lone Sox run but pops out to end the game.
Aug 24, 1916 - Babe Ruth fires his 7th shutout of the year‚ stopping Detroit on 3 hits as Boston wins‚ 3-0.
Aug 23, 1916 - Babe Ruth picks up his only save of the season‚ relieving Dutch Leonard in the 8th with Boston leading the Indians‚ 6-3. Babe strikes out 3 in the 8th and doubles and scores in his trip to the plate. He shuts out Cleveland in the 9th as Boston completes a 4-game sweep of the Tribe.
Aug 15, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth outduels Nationals' ace Walter Johnson‚ winning 1-0 in 13 innings. Johnson allows just 5 hits through 12 innings‚ while Ruth surrenders just an infield single-by Clyde Milan in the 11th-from the 7th inning on. Milan also robs Ruth of a homer in the 12th by grabbing a ball heading into the RF stands. Ruth is now 3-0 in his meetings with Johnson.
Aug 12, 1916 - At Fenway‚ Babe Ruth squares off against Washington lefty Harry Harper and both pitchers leave after 7 innings‚ with Boston trailing 1-0. Ruth‚ with two strikeouts at the plate‚ is lifted for pinch hitter Hal Janvrin. Washington reliever Walter Johnson makes two errors in the 8th and gives up two runs in the 9th as Boston wins‚ 2-1.
Aug 4, 1916 - The Browns Eddie Plank allows 2 hits and tops young Babe Ruth to give the Browns a 6-1 win over the first place Red Sox. For the hot St. Louis Browns‚ it is their 14th win in a row‚ but the streak still leaves them in 7th place.
Jul 31, 1916 - Babe Ruth fires a two hitter‚ allowing hits by Cobb and Burns‚ for a 6-0 win for the first place Red Sox over the Tigers. Ruth adds two hits at the plate.
Jul 25, 1916 - Tris Speaker has three hits against lefty Babe Ruth to finally drive him from the mound in the 8th inning. Reliever Rube Foster wild pitches home a run and Braggo Roth's 2nd double gives Cleveland a 5-3 lead. The Tribe wins it 5-4‚ with Ruth the loser. Ruth is 2-for-4 with a two run single.
Jul 20, 1916 - The Tigers beat the 2nd place Red Sox‚ 3-2‚ in 13 innings when Ty Cobb scores on a Ralph Young single. Cobb reached on an infield chop and a throwing error by Babe Ruth‚ who took over for Rube Foster in the 9th with the score‚ 2-2.
Jul 18, 1916 - At Boston‚ Babe Ruth pitches the Red Sox to a 4-3 win over the Browns. in the 3rd‚ Ruth triples and then scores on a infield grounder bowling over St. Louis C Hank Severeid and knocking him unconscious. Grover Hartley replaces the injured Severeid.
Jul 15, 1916 - The Red Sox play their 4th doubleheader in 6 days‚ losing the opener‚ 2-1 to the Browns. Tilly Walker's RBI double in the 8th gives Boston its first score in 28 innings. Boston breaks out in game two‚ pounding 4 Brownie pitchers for 18 hits to win‚ 17-4. Babe Ruth picks up the win‚ leaving after 6 innings.
Jul 11, 1916 - The Red Sox sweep the White Sox‚ winning 5-3 and 3-1. Babe Ruth starts both games‚ lasting a third of an inning in the opener‚ but pitching a 3-1 complete game win in the nitecap. Ruth started the opener to give Rube Foster more time to warm up‚ and left after retiring the first batter.
Jul 7, 1916 - Who?! At Fenway‚ the Indians score in the first off Babe Ruth‚ but manage just one more hit through the 7th. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th‚ lefty hitting reserve Olaf Henrickson pinch hits for Ruth and draws a walk‚ forcing home the tying run. Boston scores another in the 8th to win‚ 2-1.
Jul 1, 1916 - Babe Ruth retires the first 10 Washington batters‚ but the next 5 reach base‚ sending the Boston lefty to the showers and sending him to a 4-2 loss.
Jun 27, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth allows 2 runs in the first inning‚ but settles down to beat the A's‚ 7-2‚ while striking out 10. Red Sox infielder Larry Gardner is caught stealing 3 times‚ the 2nd time this year that A's catchers have caught a base runner three times (New York's Fritz Maisel‚ April 26). On June 29th‚ Lee Magee will be caught 3 times by the A's while trying to steal‚ and not until Rickey Henderson‚ in 1982‚ will an AL runner be cut down thrice in a game.
Jun 22, 1916 - Babe Ruth almost duplicates teammate Rube Foster's no-hitter‚ allowing just 3 singles‚ two by Frank Gilhooley‚ in beating the Yankees‚ 1-0. The game takes 1 hour: 18 minutes.
Jun 17, 1916 - The White Sox pound Babe Ruth for 12 hits‚ including 3 by Joe Jackson‚ in 8 innings and beat the visiting Red Sox‚ 5-0. The loss drops Boston into 6th place.
Jun 13, 1916 - Babe Ruth goes 5 1/3 innings and‚ with relief help from Ernie Shore‚ beats the Browns‚ 5-3. Ruth allows one run and is 2-or-2 at the plate‚ including his 3rd homer in 3 games.
Jun 12, 1916 - In St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth hits a 3-run pinch homer-the first of his career-in the 7th to tie the Browns at 3-3‚ but St. Louis scores in the 9th to beat the Red Sox‚ 4-3.
Jun 5, 1916 - In Cleveland‚ Babe Ruth shuts out the Indians‚ 5-0‚ on 5 hits‚ and has now thrown 24 straight scoreless innings. The Boston lefty is 2-for-3 at the plate.
Jun 1, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth tops Walter Johnson‚ 1-0‚ for his 2nd straight shutout‚ allowing just 3 hits. The Sox get their only run in the 8th inning when Mike McNally scores from 2B on an attempted 6-4-3 DP that ends with a forceout only. McNally will set a ML record this year of playing 87 games without an extra base hit: Luis Gomez will top it by 2 games in 1975. Both pitchers strike out six‚ while Ruth adds a hit by pitch on Joe Judge. Ruth‚ batting 9th‚ strikes out twice against Johnson‚ while Walter‚ batting 6th‚ is 0-for-3. The Senators lose 4 straight to Boston and drop to 2nd place in the AL.
May 27, 1916 - Yankee P Ray Keating gives up 3 hits to beat Babe Ruth and the Red Sox‚ 4-2. Ruth has two hits for Boston.
May 24, 1916 - Boston shuts out Detroit‚ 4-0‚ as Babe Ruth allows just 4 singles. Ruth adds two hits but Harry Hooper's fielding heroics-4 great catches-make him the day's star.
May 20, 1916 - At Fenway‚ starter Babe Ruth walks the first two Browns hitters. With the 2nd walk‚ Ruth's batterymate Chet "Pinch" Thomas complains so much about the call that he is tossed‚ and Sam Agnew takes his place behind the plate. After two outs‚ and runners at 1B and 3B‚ the Browns pull a double steal to score. The Sox take a 2-1 lead after 4‚ and when Ruth walks the bases loaded in the 6th‚ Carl Mays relieves. Mays allows 2 hits in 3 1/3 innings to preserve the 3-1 win. Ruth allows no hits in his 5 2/3 innings.
May 10, 1916 - Led by Tris Speaker's 2 hits and three runs‚ Cleveland tops the Red Sox and Babe Ruth‚ 6-2.
May 1, 1916 - Lefty Babe Ruth loses his first game after 5 wins‚ as the Nationals beat Boston‚ 5-3. Ruth allows just 5 singles in 7 2/3 innings‚ but walks 9. The Babe walks the bases loaded in the 8th‚ and reliever Dutch Leonard serves up a 3-run double to Washington catcher John Henry.
Apr 25, 1916 - At the Polo Grounds‚ Boston's Babe Ruth goes 10 innings to defeat the Yankees‚ 4-3. The Babe gives up 2 earned runs on 8 hits‚ but is hitless at the plate.
Apr 20, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth is 0-for-4 at the plate but whips the A's‚ 7-1‚ on five hits.
Apr 17, 1916 - At Fenway‚ Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson square off with the young Red Sox lefty emerging the winner‚ 5-1 over the Washington ace. Ruth scatters 8 hits in 6 innings and strikes out 6‚ while Johnson gives up 11 hits before being lifted in the 6th. Rain starts falling in the 7th and the game is called.
Apr 12, 1916 - On Opening Day the Red Sox scratch Ernie Shore as their starter and Babe Ruth goes 8 innings for a 2-1 win over the Athletics at Boston. The A's score their only run following Babe's throwing error‚ and Rube Foster gets the last 3 outs. The Babe hands the loss to poor Jack Nabors. A poor throw by Charlie Pick‚ A's 3B‚ is the first of his 42 errors-worst for any 20th-century 3B. This contributes to his overall .899 fielding average‚ a mark that Butch Hobson would equal in 1978.
Jan 6, 1916 - Leonard King Cole‚ who gave up Babe Ruth's first hit in 1914‚ dies in Bay City‚ Michigan at age 29. Cole pitched in 10 games with the Yankees last season.
Oct 13, 1915 - Back home‚ the Phils get 4 runs early off Rube Foster. The Red Sox break a tie in the 9th for the 3rd time‚ as reliever Eppa Rixey gives up Harry Hooper's 2nd solo HR of the game‚ both bounce homers into the crowd. Boston wins the Series 4-1. The Sox victory comes without using Babe Ruth or Carl Mays on the mound.
Oct 8, 1915 - The Red Sox start Ernie Shore in game 1 and the Phils manage just 3 hits and one run through 7 innings against him. Grover Cleveland Alexander gives up just one run as well. The Phils manage to push across two runs in the bottom of the 8th on two infield singles and two walks. Babe Ruth makes his only appearance in this WS‚ pinch hitting for Shore and grounding out. Grover Alexander holds on for a 3-1 victory for the Phils.
Oct 6, 1915 - In the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ Boston's 28th twinbill of the year‚ Babe Ruth beats New York‚ 4-2 to sweep the two. Ruth is now 17-3 since June 1st. Boston takes the opener‚ 2-0‚ as Shore‚ Leonard‚ Wood and Mays split the mound duties with each one striking out 3 Yankees. A crowd of 714 is at the Polo Grounds.
Sep 20, 1915 - In front of a full house at Fenway Park‚ including Vice-President Thomas Marshall‚ Babe Ruth gives Boston a 3-2 win over Detroit. Rube Foster relieves Babe with 2 outs in the 8th. Ruth is 1-for-3 at bat.
Sep 14, 1915 - Babe Ruth fires a two hitter‚ as the Red Sox beat the White Sox‚ 2-1‚ for their 7th win in a row. Ruth has 2 of Boston's 3 hits. Boston will win 4 of 5 in the series with Chicago.
Sep 10, 1915 - Boston's Babe Ruth wins his 15th of the year‚ stopping the visiting A's‚ 7-2 on six hits. Ruth‚ 3rd in the AL in hitting‚ is 0-for-4 at the plate.
Sep 6, 1915 - Babe Ruth holds the Yankees hitless till the 8th‚ before weakening and giving up 3 hits. Dutch Leonard relieves and the Red Sox win‚ 5-2‚ sweeping the doubleheader. Ruth is 2-for-3 at the plate.
Aug 28, 1915 - In the first of two at Cleveland‚ the Red Sox win 5-3 behind Babe Ruth and Carl Mays‚
Aug 21, 1915 - Babe Ruth pitches Boston to a 4-1 win over the Browns. At bat‚ the Babe is hitless.
Aug 14, 1915 - In the first matchup of Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson‚ the Babe comes away the winner‚ 4-3. He also goes 2-for-3 and scores a Boston run in the come from behind victory. Ruth is hitting .370‚ 2nd in the AL behind Cobb.
Aug 10, 1915 - Babe Ruth is 2-for-4 while pitching the Red Sox to 10-3 win over the Browns in the 2nd of two. Ruth strikes out 7 in winning his 10th.
Jul 25, 1915 - In the first of 2 games‚ the Browns cuff Red Sox starter Babe Ruth for 4 unearned runs in the 3rd‚ and the young lefty is relieved by Carl Mays. Boston ties the score 4-4 in the 4th‚ but the Browns eventually win 9-8. In the nitecap‚ a 1-1 tie‚ George Sisler pitches the last 2 innings for the Browns.
Jul 21, 1915 - Babe Ruth pitches and bats the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the host St. Louis Browns. Ruth is 4-for-4 with a tremendous homer and two doubles‚ and knocks in 3 runs. He scatters 5 hits with the two St. Louis runs coming on Heinie Wagner errors.
Jul 13, 1915 - In Cleveland‚ the Red Sox split‚ winning 7-3 behind Babe Ruth‚ then losing the nitecap‚ 6-5.
Jul 9, 1915 - In Detroit‚ Babe Ruth lasts a third of a inning and allows 4 runs as Detroit pounds the Red Sox‚ 15-4.
Jul 5, 1915 - The Senators are shut out twice today against the Red Sox. Rube Foster wins the opener‚ 5-0‚ then Babe Ruth follows with a 6-0 win. Ruth scores two runs and hits his first triple. The Sox will sweep two more doubleheaders in the next two days with the Nationals to edge ahead of the White Sox for 1st place.
Jun 29, 1915 - Led by Tris Speaker's 5-for-5‚ the Red Sox trip the Yankees‚ 4-3‚ in 10 innings. Babe Ruth gets the win‚ going all the way before Sheriff Gainer hits for him in the 10th.
Jun 15, 1915 - On Bunker Hill Day in Boston‚ the Browns manage just 4 hits and one run off Babe Ruth in six innings. Ruth strikes out 10 before collapsing in the 7th. Carl Mays relieves with one out and the Red Sox emerge with an 11-10 win‚ Ruth the victor. The Sox are now tied for 2nd with the Tigers.
Jun 2, 1915 - At the Polo Grounds‚ Babe Ruth and the traveling Red Sox stop the Yankees‚ 7-1. Today's game is the last stop on a 29-day road trip for the Sox. Ruth allows 5 hits and bangs his 2nd ML homer‚ a 3-run shot‚ again connecting off Jack Warhop. After his 2nd inning drive‚ the Babe is given two intentional walks. Ruth ends up kicking the bench and breaking his toe‚ sidelining him for 2 weeks.
May 29, 1915 - Babe Ruth allows one hit through 8 innings but his Red Sox lose‚ 2-1‚ in the 9th when the A's Harry Davis hits a 2-run pinch single off of Babe. Boston takes the 2nd game‚ 6-5.
May 22, 1915 - The White Sox top Boston again‚ knocking starter Babe Ruth out in the 2nd. Ruth allows 3 hits in the 1st‚ walks 3‚ tosses a wild pitch and throws a potential DP ball into CF. After he strikes out on 3 pitches from Joe Benz‚ the Babe gives up two singles in the 2nd and is lifted. Chicago wins‚ 11-3.
May 6, 1915 - Red Sox P Babe Ruth clouts his first ML HR‚ off the Yankees Jack Warhop in the 3rd inning at New York's Polo Grounds. Ruth has two other hits but loses the game in the 13th‚ 4-3‚ as the Sox makes 4 errors behind him. Cy Pieh is the winner.
Apr 10, 1915 - In Cincinnati‚ the Reds beat Babe Ruth and the Red Sox‚ 3-1. Boston will prevail tomorrow‚ 2-1.
Apr 5, 1915 - In the final match of a 3-game series against the Memphis Turtles (Southern Association)‚ the Red Sox win 10-5 to sweep. Babe Ruth pitches the final 5 innings in relief. The Sox are traveling north from their spring training camp in Hot Springs‚ Arkansas.
Oct 5, 1914 - At Fenway Park‚ Washington's Walter Johnson wins his 28th game of the year‚ a 9-3 win over the Sox. Babe Ruth‚ pinch hitting for pitcher Ray Collins‚ strikes out on three pitches.
Oct 2, 1914 - In Boston‚ the Yankees make 5 errors to help Red Sox rookie Babe Ruth win‚ 11-5. Ruth‚ just recalled from Providence‚ makes his first ML hit‚ a double‚ off King Cole.
Sep 27, 1914 - After losing four in Boston‚ the Cubs play an exhibition game against the Providence Grays and lose again‚ 8-7‚ in 8 innings. The Cubs score 3 in the 9th to tie and when Providence tallies a run‚ the Cubs rush to make a train: which they miss. The game at Rocky Point features two splash homers hit into Narragansett bay‚ one by Wilbur Good and another by Grays pitcher Babe Ruth. Ruth adds a triple and on the slab he walks 7 and strikes out 3. The Cubs pocket $400 for their showdown with the Babe.
Sep 5, 1914 - Pitching for visiting Providence (IL) 19-year-old Babe Ruth beats Toronto 9-0 with a one-hitter‚ and hits his only minor league HR‚ a 3-run blast off Ellis Johnson.
Aug 17, 1914 - In Manchester‚ NH‚ Babe Ruth pitches the Red Sox to a 4-2 exhibition win over the local New England League team. Ruth will be sent to the Providence Grays (IL) tomorrow after finally clearly waivers.
Jul 16, 1914 - The Tigers‚ minus Cobb who is nursing a sore thumb‚ knock out rookie Babe Ruth in the 4th inning and trip the Red Sox‚ 5-2. It is Ruth's first loss.
Jul 11, 1914 - Babe Ruth breaks in with Boston‚ striking out in his first at bat‚ but gets a win in a 4-3 victory over Cleveland. With the score 3-3 in the 7th‚ Duffy Lewis pinch hits for Ruth‚ singles‚ and later scores the winning run. Dutch Leonard strikes out 4 of the 6 batters he faces in relief.
Jul 7, 1914 - Suffering heavy losses from Federal League competition in Baltimore‚ the Orioles' (IL) owner Jack Dunn offers Babe Ruth (plus Ernie Shore and C Ben Egan) for $10‚000 to old friend Connie Mack‚ who refuses‚ pleading poverty. Cincinnati‚ which has a working agreement giving them the choice of 2 players‚ ignores Ruth and takes OF George Twombley and SS Claud Derrick. Dunn finally peddles his threesome to new owner Joe Lannin of the Red Sox for a reported $25‚000.
Apr 22, 1914 - At age 19‚ Babe Ruth's first professional game (as a pitcher) is a 6-hit‚ 6-0 win for Baltimore (International League) over Buffalo. The 2nd batter he faces is Joe McCarthy‚ the manager he will play for 17 years later with New York. Ruth is 2-for-4. Just 200 fans are on hand.
Jun 3, 1911 - In Chicago‚ Cubs slugger Frank "Wildfire" Schulte hits a grand slam off Rube Marquard to beat the Giants‚ 8-4. Schulte will slam four this season‚ a record tied by Babe Ruth in 1919 and topped by Ernie Banks' five in 1955. The four this season are Schulte's only grand slams in his 11-year career. Ed Reulbach picks up the victory.
Jan 3, 1911 - At Laughery club house‚ near Rising Sun‚ Indiana‚ the National Baseball Commission adopts a rule that bars World Series winners from playing post-season exhibition games. This obscure rule will lead to a direct confrontation between Babe Ruth and Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1921.
Sep 29, 1902 - The AL season ends with the Athletics five games in front of St. Louis Browns. Philadelphia's Socks Seybold hits 16 HRs for the highest total to lead the AL until Babe Ruth's 29 in 1919.
May 24, 1902 - In a 15-9 slugfest win against Philadelphia‚ Bill Bradley‚ Cleveland 3B‚ is the AL's first to hit a HR in 4 consecutive games‚ a record not matched until Babe Ruth does it June 25‚ 1918.
Aug 27, 1897 - In a 9-4 loss‚ Louisville rookie Honus Wagner hits his first ML homer‚ driving a Jack Dunn pitch over the RF fence at Brooklyn's Eastern Park. Dunn will later achieve fame as the owner of the Baltimore Orioles when he signs Babe Ruth to a contract.
Aug 7, 1894 - Boston's Jimmy "Foxy Grandpa" Bannon becomes the first player to hit grand slams in consecutive games‚ connecting in Boston's 19-8 win over Philadelphia. At Varsity Grounds. Bannon's feat will not be matched until September 24‚ 1901 and next by Babe Ruth‚ in 1927. Bannon is in the middle of a 25-game hit streak that started July 30 and will end on August 29.
May 30, 1884 - In the afternoon game of Chicago's doubleheader with Detroit (NL)‚ White Stocking Ned Williamson doubles and hits a ML-record 3 HRs as Chicago overwhelms the Wolverines 12-2. Weldman‚ the losing pitcher‚ swaps place with SS Meinke‚ who finishes up. Williamson's HRs are his first of 27 (25 at home)‚ which will set a ML season record not broken until Babe Ruth hits 29 in 1919. Williamson and his teammates will combine for a record 142 dingers-all but 10 at home-in taking advantage of tiny Lake Front Park's new ground rule: a ball hit over the fence is now a homer‚ whereas last year it went for a ground-rule double.
