“Ruth, by Losing 36 Baseballs, Breaks Up Game in Montreal.”

“Ruth, by Losing 36 Baseballs, Breaks Up Game in Montreal.”

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.”

oscar charleston
|

Oscar Charleston runs in from his position and decks the official with one punch, starting a huge brawl that engulfs players, fans and police officers alike.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1915 – In a game between the Indianapolis ABCs and a team of white “All-Stars” from the city, trouble breaks out in the 5th inning when All-Stars baserunner Donie Bush is declared safe by (white) umpire Jimmy Scanlon on an attempted steal of second base, while most observers contend he was out. ABCs second baseman Bingo DeMoss objects vehemently and starts to fight the umpire, at which point 19-year-old CF Oscar Charleston runs in from his position and decks the official with one punch, starting a huge brawl that engulfs players, fans and police officers alike. After order is restored, both DeMoss and Charleston are arrested, although they will be let out on bail and allowed to accompany their team on a planned barnstorming tour of Cuba. When they return to face trial on December 7th, Charleston is fined $10 and DeMoss $5, but the police use the fight as a pretext to ban any further games between teams of different races in the city.

"I'd sure loved to have swung against today's lively ball. Yes, with my 52-ounce bat. . . . Many hitters are swinging for the fences instead of choking up. Of course, homers are nice. But I'll take a good .300 hitter who can get on base often. You can't drive in many runs batting .225 no matter how many homers you hit." — Frank "Home Run" Baker
|

The Philadelphia Athletics score twice in the 11th inning to beat the New York Giants, 3 – 2, in Game 3 of the World Series

ByThis Day in Baseball

1911 – The Philadelphia Athletics score twice in the 11th inning to beat the New York Giants, 3 – 2, in Game 3 of the World Series. Frank Baker hits a home run in the 9th inning off Christy Mathewson to tie the score, 1 – 1. Baker will be tagged with the nickname “Home Run” Baker for his exploits.