In the Labor Day afternoon game at Boston, won by the Red Sox, 8 – 2, the Yankees outfield makes an American League-record five assists, four by Bob Meusel. Meusel, with one of the strongest arms, will lead the AL in assists in 1921 and 1922.
At Navin Field in Detroit, Babe Ruth becomes the all-time home run leader when he hits his 139th career blast as a major leaguer. The Yankee slugger’s 36th homer of the season, a mammoth shot that travels over 500 feet, puts him ahead of Roger Connor, who connected for 138 round-trippers during his 18 years in the National League.
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.
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 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.
In the season opener for the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth goes 5 for 5, as New York and Carl Mays beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 11 – 1.
Babe Ruth at spring training in Shreveport, Louisiana – 1921.
In the first game of a twinbill, Babe Ruth hits his 50th home run in the 1st 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 three hits off loser Jim Shaw are by Del Pratt.
In Boston, 33,000 are on hand for a doubleheader and to see Babe Ruth return to the Yankee lineup. The Babe hits his 45th homer in the opener to give New York a 5 – 3 win. In the nitecap, Carl Mays pitches to a mixture of boos and cheers. Mays takes a 5 – 3 lead into the 9th, then he fails to back up home on a play at the plate. A loose ball allows Joe Bush to score the winning run and Boston wins, 6 – 5.
Ruth & Huggins arguing with umpire Tom Connolly – Meusel listening to the umpires’ explanation. August 1, 1920 – Ruth hit a ball overflow crowd at Comiskey Park, Shoeless Jackson said he caught the ball, the Yankees believe he’s lying. Joe would later admit he never caught it
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!