On July 12, 1921, Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits his 137th career home run, moving past fellow Hall of Famer Roger Connor on the all-time list. Connor hit 136 home runs during his career-all during the 19th century.
In Detroit, RF Harry Heilmann hits a home run that is measured at 610 feet.
Major League-leading slugger Babe Ruth brings the Yankees but apparently little else – least of all his A-game – to Forbes Field for an exhibition bout against the National League-leading Bucs. Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press is clearly not at all impressed: “Bambino Didn’t Shine. Babe Ruth didn’t have a batting average yesterday. His strikeout average was .500. The King of Swatters didn’t look good against Hal Carlson’s pitching. He struck wide at several pitches and fanned twice. His other efforts were flies to Max Careyand Dave Robertson. Rip Collins, the Yankee pitcher, witnessed the game from the press box. As Robertson captured Ruth’s fly, he remarked: ‘You can’t make me believe that the National League ball is as lively as the American League sphere. If Ruth had cracked one like that in our league, the ball would have gone to kingdom come.’ As a fielder, Ruth was a joke yesterday. Luckily for the Yanks, he didn’t have many chances, but he surely looked slow and bad on those he had.” One of those chances is Charlie Grimm’s 2nd-inning triple which bounces over Ruth’s head, scoring the Bucs’ first run and setting up the second, which ties the contest at two all. One inning later, Robertson unties it with a tape-measure, two-run blast and the Bucs never look back.
On June 10, 1921 Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees becomes the major leagues’ career home run leader by hitting his 120th off Cleveland Indians pitcher Jim Bagby in the 3rd inning. The Indians win, 8 – 6. Roger Connor held the record until that time.
6/10/1921 – Ty Cobb’s Tigers were in Washington completing a series against the Senators. Before the game, Cobb changed his lineup by reversing Harry Heilmann and Bobby Veach. However, the skipper failed to tell the players of this switch. In the top of the first inning, Heilmann batted in Veach’s spot and hit a two-run home run to left field. Umpire Billy Evans declared Heilmann out. When Veach finally got to bat in the fourth inning, he homered to right. There was also a Washington runner called out for coach’s interference later in the game. The Tigers won, 6-3.
6/10/1921: The Tigers were in Washington for a strange game. In the top of the first inning, Harry Heilmann homered into the left field bleachers. It came off Harry Courtney with one runner on base. However, Heilmann was called out for batting out of turn by umpire Billy Evans. Detroit manager Ty Cobb had changed the lineup before the game but did not tell the players. Bobby Veach was skipped in the batting order in the initial frame. Veach batted in the fourth inning for the first time and homered to right field. In the fifth inning, Washington’s Bucky Harris was called out on the base paths because of interference by Clyde Milan who was coaching third base at the time. There was a lot of confusion on the field during that play and eventually Harris and Sam Rice ended up standing at third base. When Rice stepped off the bag he was tagged out.
On June 7, 1921, a minor league game in Kingsport, Tennessee is canceled because of a murder. The body of a slain girl is found at the ballpark, to prevent the trail from becoming confused for bloodhounds, police close the park and cancel the game between Kingsport and Knoxville.
On June 6, 1921, New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes the 20th-century home run leader. Ruth, who connects on his 120th career home run against Cleveland Indians pitcher Jim Bagby, will finish his career with 714 home runs – a major league record until it is surpassed by Hank Aaron.
1921 – Bill Gatewood of the Detroit Stars pitches the first no-hitter in the history of the Negro National League, defeating the Cuban Stars, 4 – 0.
On June 1, 1921 At the Polo Grounds Dave Bancroft became the ninth player in Giants franchise history to hit for the cycle. He accomplished the rare event just a season after teammate George Burns (who hit for the cycle on September 17, 1920) and a season before teammate Ross Youngs (April 29, 1922)….
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