On July 7, 1927, the Washington Senators acquire left-handed pitcher Tom Zachary from the St. Louis Browns for right-hander Alvin “General” Crowder. Zachary will gain notoriety when he surrenders Babe Ruth’s record-breaking 60th home run later in the season.
On June 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. Tony Lazzeri adds a…
In his first starting assignment for the Yankees, Wilcy Moore loses a heartbreaker to the Senators, 3 – 2, in the nitecap of a doubleheader. Lou Gehrig is spiked at first base by Bucky Harris as Firpo Marberry scores the winning run. The Yankees win the opener, 8 – 2, as Babe Ruth hits his 12th home run of the year, a three-run shot. Tris Speaker plays most of Game One for the Senators despite fracturing his left thumb in batting practice.
Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce the Bambino will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years. The ‘Sultan of Swat,’ who had asked for $100,000, meets Colonel Jacob Ruppert at the owner’s brewery in the Yorkville section of Manhattan to finalize the historic deal.
1926 – “Ruth, by Losing 36 Baseballs, Breaks Up Game in Montreal.” The barnstorming Babe Ruth and his buddy Urban Shocker are the Yankee ringers infiltrating an exhibition game north of the border. The Associated Press reports: “Babe Ruth stopped a perfectly good ball game here today when, knocking thirty-six balls out of the grounds, he forced the game to be called shortly after the start of the 9th inning because the management had no more spheres. Ruth enjoyed a Roman holiday to the delight of 3,000 fans, who braved a chilling wind to see the home-run hero’s mighty bat give Guybourg a 4 to 3 victory over Beaurivage. Ruth’s performance included two home runs. He also played shortstop, first base, pitched and umpired.”
On October 12, 1926, Babe Ruth visited Wilkes-Barre’s Artillery Park to play in an exhibition game between Hughestown and Larksville. Suiting up for Hughestown, the Yankee slugger challenged Larksville’s hurler Ernie Corkran to throw him his “best stuff” — a fastball right down the heart of the plate. Corkran obliged and Ruth crushed the pitch…
On October 10, 1926, After pitching a complete Game 6, 39-year-old Grover Cleveland Alexander appears from the bullpen Through the cold, misty fog that had descended upon the field, the 38,000 plus in attendance and the Yankee bench were surprised to see the great Pete Alexander appear. Most assumed Alexander would be unable to pitch…
1926 – Babe Ruth hits three home runs to lead the Yankees to a 10 – 5 victory over St. Louis in Game 4 of the World Series. His 1st-inning curtain-raiser is a majestic 395-footer, exiting Sportsman’s Park over its right field bleacher roof. Home run number 2 clears the roof in right center, carrying 515 feet, breaking a window on the other side of Grand Avenue. Ruth’s final foray, however, is the main attraction, carrying deep into the never-before reached centerfield bleachers, far beyond the 430-foot mark. Estimated at 530 feet, it is deemed the longest home run in World Series history. Ruth, however, not content to dominate offensively, also delivers a crucial outfield assist, cutting down a runner at the plate, ending the Cardinals’ 3rd-inning rally. In the words of broadcaster Graham McNamee, “Babe Ruth nor no other man ever made a better throw. Babe shot it like an arrow and Hank Severeid did not have to move for it.” If all this weren’t enough, this also is the game during which the Babe makes good on his alleged pre-game promise to hit a home run for the bedridden young Johnny Sylvester.
The Browns beat the Yankees twice, 6 – 1 and 6 – 2, in a total time of two hours, seven minutes, a major-league record for a twinbill. The second game is the fastest in American League history: 55 minutes. The Yanks total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 in the two games. Babe Ruth has one at bat, then sits, and misses reliever George Sisler, who tosses two scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in the second game and, when the Browns score four in the 8th, picks up the victory. Ruth has 47 homers – twice as many as the runner-up, and also leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBI, and 144 bases on balls. Browns coach Jimmy Austin, 46 years old, participates in the nitecap and contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50, in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees use Fred Merkle in his final game. Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6th.
At Cleveland’s League Park, a crowd of 31,000 watch the Yankees hold back the Indians, 8 – 3, in the final of a six-game series. In the 7th, Babe Ruth parks his 43rd homer of the year and Lou Gehrig follows with another home run, both off Emil Levsen. Gehrig adds three doubles and five RBIs to lead the Yankee charge. Dutch Ruether picks up the New York win.
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