Our mailbox is always full of esoteric questions from our readers. So every week, we pass along some of their most interesting queries to baseball historians who know the answers.
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BABE'S GRAND FINALE
Q: Can you tell me a bit about the final home runs Babe Ruth hit in his career? Were they hit in his final game?
-- WWjdfabplus@aol.com
A: Babe Ruth's final home runs -- three of them -- came on May 25, 1935 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, in his second-to-last game. His last, #714, was the only ball ever hit out of Forbes Field, and was rumored to have traveled 600 feet.
After a disagreement with Boston Braves owner Judge Emil Fuchs about one day becoming a manager, Ruth sat out the next five days, playing in only one inning of a Memorial Day doubleheader between the Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. He announced his retirement two days later.
Q: Will Don Zimmer be switching to #53 for the upcoming season?
-- BahamaMama579@aol.com
A: Indeed, Don Zimmer will be switching from #52 to #53 for the 2001 season to commemorate his 53rd season in professional baseball, spanning playing and managerial stints in both the majors and minors.
Although Zimmer isn't sure whether he'll be back with the Yankees in 2002, he says that if he does come back, he won't take #54, which he believes should be retired in honor of Goose Gossage.
Q: Who was the first African-American to lead his league in home runs?
-- Hal Garrett
A: In 1952, Larry Doby became the first African-American player to lead the league in home runs when he hit 32, topping the American League. Doby also has the distinction of being the first African-American to play in the AL, the first African-American to hit a World Series home run, and the first African-American to win a World Series.
A: After 15 seasons with the Braves, including playing for them while they were the Boston Braves and Milwaukee Braves, Mathews was traded to the Houston Astros in December of 1966. Replacing him at third the next year was Clete Boyer, who was acquired by the Braves from the New York Yankees. Boyer played five seasons with Atlanta, amassing a .244 average, hitting 66 home runs, and driving in 251 runs.
Q: What teams did Marty Bergen play for during his career?
-- Pipe521@aol.com
A: In his career, which lasted from 1896-1899, Marty Berger played four seasons with the Boston Beaneaters, who later became the Boston Braves, and are now known as the Atlanta Braves. In 344 games, he hit .265 with 10 home runs, 176 RBI, and 180 runs scored.
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