On April 27, 1947, the New York Yankees hold Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 58,339 attends the ceremony at “The House That Ruth Built” to honor the game’s all-time home run leader, who is dying of throat cancer. Ruth will succumb the following summer…
On Opening Day, Mel Ott hits his 511th and final home run of his career in the Giants’ 8-4 victory over Philadelphia at the Polo Grounds, a ballpark in which he has hit 63% of his round-trippers. The 37 year-old player-manager, who has two hundred more homers than any other National Leaguer, will retire third on the all-time list, trailing only Babe Ruth (714) and Jimmie Foxx (534).
November 2, 1944 – Japan, where baseball has been banned as an undesirable enemy influence, mourns the death of Eiji Sawamura. The Japanese pitcher, who is killed in action in the Pacific, became a national hero by striking out Babe Ruth in an exhibition game. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about…
War Bond Game, August 26, 1943, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Tris Speaker, Lefty Grove, Connie Mack, Eddie Collins, Al Simmons, Bill Dickey, George Sisler, and Homerun Baker stand in uniform before an Old Timers All Star game.
“The 76-year-old gray-haired man puffed contently on an ancient, battered pipe,” wrote Burton Hawkins of The Washington Star, referring to Cy Young, whom he interviewed in May 1943. The sprightly septuagenarian—MLB’s career leader in wins (511), losses (315), complete games (749), innings (7,356), and batters faced (29,565)—discussed a variety of topics with Hawkins, including pitching,…
Walter Johnson pitching to Babe Ruth is the pregame attraction that draws 69,000 for the New York-Washington game at Yankee Stadium that provides $80,000 for Army-Navy relief. Ruth hits the fifth pitch into the right-field stands, and then adds one more shot before circling the bases. Sixteen relief games contribute $523,000 during the season. In the doubleheader between the Senators and the Yankees, the Senators win the opener, 7 – 6 and New York cops the nitecap, 3 – 0, in 5 1/2 innings.
In 1941. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker
On June 4, 1941, numerous baseball dignitaries attend the funeral of Lou Gehrig in the Bronx. Former New York Yankee great Babe Ruth, Yankee manager Joe McCarthy, and American League president Will Harridge pay their respects to Gehrig, who died on June 2.
On January 1, 1941 – In an effort to support the U.S. mobilization effort, Babe Ruth spends $50,000 for defense bonds. The Yankee legend’s purchase is the maximum amount allowed by law for one person.
On May 21, 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, future Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam home run for the second consecutive day. Foxx’s grand slam proves decisive, as the Red Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers, 11-8. Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Doc Cramer also homer for…
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