March 17, 1918: A young Babe Ruth, still primarily a pitcher, slugs a pair of home runs during a spring training game at Whittington Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The second long ball is thought to be the first 500-plus foot blast in baseball history. The Herculean shot—hit off Brooklyn Robins hurler Norman Plitt—soared far…
On January 2, 1918, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquire outfielder Casey Stengel and infielder George Cutshaw from the Brooklyn Robins for pitcher Burleigh Grimes and Al Mamaux, and infielder Chuck Ward. Stengel will play only two seasons with the Pirates before moving on to Philadelphia, but will eventually enjoy a Hall of Fame career as a…
Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance in both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. In his 18 innings of work, the Philadelphia right-hander limits the Dodgers to seven hits en route to posting 5-0 and 9-3 victories in the twin bill.
1917 – Brooklyn and the Pirates play their 3rd straight extra-inning game in Ebbets Field. The Robins win it 6 – 5 in 22 innings. Pittsburgh’s Carson Bigbee goes to bat 11 times, tying a record.
1917 – The Boston Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins, 11 – 2, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. For tomorrow’s exhibition game in Memphis, Tennessee, players on both teams will sport numbers on their sleeves, the idea of Robins’ owner Charles Ebbets. His reasoning is that fans in non-major league cities would be unfamiliar with the players.
Babe Ruth pitches four innings against the Brooklyn Robins, allowing just one hit, before giving way to a group of inept Boston Red Sox relievers. Brooklyn wins, 11 – 2, and reigns as “Hot Springs Champs.”
1916 – Four days after his first appearance, Pirate rookie Burleigh Grimes makes his first start, against the Robins at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn breaks a scoreless tie with two runs in the 7th, after Honus Wagner flubs a double play grounder hit by Casey Stengel. Wagner, who ostensibly had told the rookie to have Stengel hit the ball to short, reportedly says, “Those damn big feet of mine have always been in my way.” Pittsburgh scores two in the 8th to tie but pitcher Larry Cheney hits a run-scoring double in the bottom of the 9th to win it for Brooklyn.
1916 – The Phils whitewash the Robins twice‚ winning 3 – 0 behind Grover Alexander and 6 – 0 to back Eppa Rixey. Alexander’s win in the opener is his 14th shutout‚ setting a major league record. The loser is Jack Coombs‚ who had set the record of 13 shutouts while pitching for the A’s in 1910.
New York Giants trade first baseman Fred Merkle
The Giants ask for waivers on Chief Meyers, but Brooklyn and Boston both refuse the team’s request. When the Robins owner Charles Ebbets and Braves owners Percy D. Haughton disagree on the status of the veteran catcher, a coin toss determines the 35 year-old will play for Brooklyn, where he will hit .235 in limited action over the next two season.
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