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Top 8 Babe Ruth Moments
On August 16, 1948, baseball great Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, Jr) passed away. Since Ruth was unquestionably one of the greatest baseball players ever to play the game, Game Plan for Life presents some of his greatest moments in the game in remembrance of the man who passed away 63 years ago. Enjoy our picks and join in with any you think we may have missed.
The First Home Run Competition
In 1921, the second season that Babe Ruth played for the Yankees he hit an astonishing 59 home runs. Most people believed that the record would stand forever and that 60 homers by one batter was an impossible feat. It seemed that the naysayers were right. Over the following five seasons Ruth’s maximum home runs only totaled 46. Then, in June, 1927 Ruth wrote in his newspaper column that if he were to break his own record, this was the year it must happen as he was getting older. He also noted that he believed there were two other players who could break the record. “One of them is Lou Gehrig and the other is Tony Lazzeri,” he wrote. With Gehrig following him in the lineup in 1927 and hitting home runs like mad, Ruth was motivated to keep pace. Turns out that Ruth called it right. On September 29th of 1927 Ruth hit back-to-back home runs and tied his record. The following day, in a game against the Senators who had lefty Tom Zachary pitching Ruth, he hit his 60th home run with a barely fair zinger that landed in the left field stands about halfway up. As for the competition with Gehrig, until the first week of July, Gehrig a/k/a “The Iron Man” was ahead of Ruth by 2 runs. It was 28 – 26, but then as the Babe’s bat started connecting “The Iron Man” fell apart. The first home run competition in baseball ended with Lou Gehrig hitting 47 home runs for the season compared to the Babe’s 60. Traded the following year to the Yankees, Tom Zachery claimed until he left baseball that Ruth’s 60th homer in 1927 was a foul ball. And Tony Lazzeri? He was a distant third with only 18 home runs that season.
Three Homers In A Single World Series Game
Babe Ruth, often referred to as the “Sultan of Swat”, was monumental in Game 4 of the World Series in 1926 – the year before he hit 60 home runs. It was the New York Yankees battling with the St. Louis Cardinals for the 1926 World Series Championship. On October 26th Ruth swatted three home runs in a single World Series game handing the Yankees a 10-5 victory. However, it was not enough and St. Louis ultimately won the championship.
Babe Ruth’s Called Shot – Game 4 of the 1932 World Series
During the 1932 World Series, which featured the New York Yankees against the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth hit his final home run in a World Series Game. For that alone, it was a great moment in his career. But, a controversy exists about the home run – did the Babe predict it?
The first ball pitched to him was a strike by Cub’s pitcher Charlie Root. When Root pitched the next 2 balls, they were balls and the next pitch was a strike. At this point it is alleged that Ruth pointed to the center field bleachers indicating that was where he would hit the next ball. Root pitched again and Babe connected with the ball sending it to the center field stands. However, as no words were uttered by Ruth about hitting a homer to center field, the only proof that he called the shot was his gesture in the direction of the center field of Wrigley Field. But, that pointing gesture could have been at Root, the Cub’s dugout or center field. Newsreels of that game do show the “pointing gesture”. However, it has never been determined with certainty who or what Babe was pointing at. Root was allowed to continue pitching. He next faced Gehrig who swung on the first pitch and hit a homer. Root was then relieved of pitching the game.
Though the story is compelling, it can not be proven. What we do know that places this hit by Ruth among his greatest moments is that it was the final homer he hit in a World Series game.
1916 World Series
Because of his fame as a baseball slugger many people today do not realize that he was also one of the greatest left-handed pitchers to play major league baseball. An example of his pitching prowess is the 1916 World Series. Ruth was then playing for the Boston Red Sox, opposing them were the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ruth was starting for the Red Sox and Sherry Smith was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers. In just the first inning the Dodgers scored on Ruth making it 1-0 Brooklyn. In the 4th inning the Red Sox answered with a scoring run and tied the game at 1-1. The fans that day saw one of the most amazing pitching duels in Major League Baseball history. The game went on for 14 innings when the Red Sox finally scored the winning run. Ruth and Sherry pitched the entire game which is still known as being the longest game in World Series history.
The 1919 Season
In 1919, in addition to pitching, he played 111 games as an outfielder. That season he hit 29 home runs, a record in major league ball history. While accomplishing this, he hit a home run in every ball park that was in the American League. He led the league in runs (103), hits (114) as well as in slugging percentage and on-base-percentage.
June 23, 1917
Babe Ruth is the starting pitcher. His first four balls are all called as balls and opponent Ray Morgan is awarded a walk. Ruth then punches home plate umpire Brick Owens and Babe is ejected from the game. Ernie Shore relieves Ruth. Shore gets Morgan out as he attempts to steal a base and he puts down 26 consecutive batters and is credited with a perfect game. However, later the ruling is changed to a combined no-hitter for Shore and Babe Ruth.
1923 Season
The Yankees played 152 games in 1923 and Babe Ruth did not miss one. He led the American League with 41 season home runs, 131 runs batted in and 151 runs scored. Also, he had a .545 on-base percentage, a .764 slugging percentage, and an American League record 170 walks. The Yankees won 98 games and the American League Pennant. Babe Ruth was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player of the year.
July 6, 1983
The United States Post Office issued the Babe Ruth Stamp that commemorates George Herman Ruth, Jr a/k/a Babe Ruth and nicknamed The King of Swat as well as the “Bambino” as part of the first group of ball players inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Etcetera: Not moments, but some fun trivia and a quote related to the “Babe”
Nickname: When signed as a rookie by Jack Dunn of Boston, a sports reporter referred to Ruth as one of “Dunn’s babes”. The nickname “Babe” stuck with him throughout his career. He was also known as the “Sultan of Swat” and “The Great Bambino”
Records held: During his professional career, the Babe held more than 60 official Major League Baseball records including the most home runs and the most strikeouts.
Once, Babe Ruth told a teammate : “Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.” It was his way of explaining the record 714 lifetime home runs coupled with being struck out 1330 times.
Many people forget that Babe was also a good pitcher. He was a man ahead of his time.