Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Birthdate	2/6/1895
Death Date	8/16/1948
Debut Year	1914
Year of Induction	1936
Teams	Braves, Red Sox, Yankees
Positions	Pitcher, Right Field

Babe Ruth hit his 138th career homer in 1921 to tie Roger Connor’s MLB record. For the next 14 years, each of his next 576 dingers set a new mark.

Ruth's first manager Bill Carrigan was recognized in Cooperstown's Honor Rolls of Baseball

Bill Carrigan played catcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1906 to 1916. He also managed the team for seven seasons, four as a player-manager. During that time, he led Boston to three World Series championships. The respected Carrigan became the first manager for Babe Ruth, the game’s greatest playe

Duffy Lewis pinch hit for Babe in Ruth's debut & witnessed his first and last career homers

Duffy Lewis began his life in professional baseball as a 19-year old minor leaguer in 1907. He remained in the game until after his 74th birthday. Later in life, Lewis enjoyed sharing stories about his baseball odyssey. One of his favorites featured a young Babe Ruth pitching for the Boston Red Sox

Babe Ruth is one of only two Red Sox lefties to earn three victories in World Series play

When Jon Lester earned the win in Game 5 of the 2013 World Series, he became the second Red Sox southpaw to achieve three Fall Classic victories. This accomplishment holds special significance, especially considering the left-handed hurler who did it first: Babe Ruth. Ruth worked hard

The baseball landscape changed when Ruth was sold to the Yankees on December 26, 1919

The Boston Red Sox won World Series titles in 1912, ’15, ’16, and ’18. Three of those championships came with Babe Ruth as a member of the team. Then on December 26, 1919 the Sox sold Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000. The move forever altered baseball history. During Ruth’s 1

Joe Sewell witnessed Babe Ruth's called shot and had strong opinions about the homer

Perhaps Ruth’s most mythical feat was his “Called Shot” in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series at Chicago’s Wrigley field. Did he point to centerfield and declare where he would put the next pitched ball? Hitting in front of Ruth that day was Joe Sewell. He describes the feat in

Sewell recalls Chicago fans throwing "everything they had" on the field after Ruth's homer

Joe Sewell’s vivid recall of Babe Ruth’s called shot continues on the second page of the letter. Sewell details Ruth’s uncomfortable trip circling the bases after the home run. He writes, “…on his way home the fans threw cabbage, lemons, eggs, hats, and everything they had on the f

Watching the homer from the other dugout, pitcher Guy Bush supports Sewell

Agreement about mythical events from eye witnesses is hard to find. This handwritten note from Cubs pitcher Guy Bush corroborate opponent Joe Sewell’s testimony. In taking a less-certain stance, Bush writes “Ruth was talking to me. At the time when he raised his right hand it is of my be

Yankee starting shortstop Frank Crosetti says Ruth did not call his shot

Not so fast, says Ruth’s teammate Frank Crosetti. According to Crow, the Bambino was indicating something else as he raised his hand. “Joe Sewell is wrong. When (Charlie) Root got 2 strikes on him the Babe pointed one finger at the Cub bench, meaning he had one more strike left. He did n

Ben Chapman started in right field for the Yankees; here's what he thinks

Yankee right fielder Ben Chapman hit just in front of Crosetti, four spots behind Ruth. He wasn’t sure what Ruth’s intent was. Here Chapman writes, “He was pointing at Charley (sic) Root who had knocked him down.” However, Chapman wasn’t entirely certain. Later in the l

Chicago Cubs third baseman Woody English believes there was no called shot

Playing third base that day for the Cubs was Woody English. Witnessing the home run from the field, English forever discounted the idea of Ruth calling his shot. In this letter English writes, “…he held two fingers up saying that’s only 2 strikes. The press box was some 200 feet up

Ruth's roommate Jimmie Reese calls him "the greatest...to ever play..."

Babe Ruth was admired by many inside the game. Shown here is a letter from former Yankee Jimmie Reese, a teammate of Ruth’s for two seasons. Reese outlines his “association with what I fervently believe was the greatest baseball player that ever played the game.” Ruth’s roomm

America's enemies in World War II often yelled, "To hell with Babe Ruth."

For decades Babe Ruth was the most famous man on the planet. While an active player, nobody was more photographed than the Bambino. Even years after the Babe retired he was still, he was still a source of national pride. According to ESPN’s Larry Schwartz, “During World War II, when Japa

The Bambino's agent writes about Ruth and Bill Dickey appearing in Pride of the Yankees

Babe Ruth had an agent at a time most in professional sports did not. Christy Walsh served Ruth in that capacity for many years. In this letter dated January 27, 1942, Walsh tells his assistant that Yankee catcher Bill Dickey agreed to appear in the Lou Gehrig biopic titled, Pride of the Yankees. Th

Word of the Bambino's August 14, 1948 death spread to newspapers via telegram

Babe Ruth’s passing marked a sad day for baseball. Before the internet, newspapers spread news of his death. This telegram, dated August 16, 1948, went to the editor of the Chicago Tribune. It reads, “Baseball King George Herman Ruth passed away today after a lengthy illness. The cause of de

A Story about Babe Ruth

Inducted into Cooperstown’s Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946, Bill Carrigan managed Boston to back-to-back World Series titles

August 2nd, 2017 Leave a comment

Every summer the baseball world pauses as the Hall of Fame induction weekend puts the village of Cooperstown on display. Players, managers, executives, owners, and umpires who are deemed worthy receive a plaque and along with it, baseball immortality. The election process during the Hall’s infancy bears little resemblance to today. For the first decade of induction, Cooperstown recognized only its players with the exception of pioneer Henry Chadwick. The Hall establishes the Honor Rolls of Baseball Wanting to recognize non-playing personnel, the Hall established the Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946 as a second level of induction. That year the museum’s Permanent Committee voted to include 39 non-players into the Honor Rolls. Eleven umpires, 11 executives, 12 sportswriters, and 5 managers were inducted. Of the five skippers, four have since gained full induction with plaques in Cooperstown. The lone manager not so recognized is former Red Sox pilot Bill Carrigan. Born in Maine in 1883, Carrigan broke in with Boston in 1906 as a backup catcher. In time he became a favorite of the pitching staff, catching the likes of Cy Young, Bill Dinneen and a young Babe Ruth for the Red Sox. Soon Carrigan was one of the game’s most […]

In the collection:

Ruth's first manager Bill Carrigan was recognized in Cooperstown's Honor Rolls of Baseball

Duffy Lewis pinch hit for Babe in Ruth's debut & witnessed his first and last career homers

Babe Ruth is one of only two Red Sox lefties to earn three victories in World Series play

The baseball landscape changed when Ruth was sold to the Yankees on December 26, 1919

Joe Sewell witnessed Babe Ruth's called shot and had strong opinions about the homer

Sewell recalls Chicago fans throwing "everything they had" on the field after Ruth's homer

Watching the homer from the other dugout, pitcher Guy Bush supports Sewell

Yankee starting shortstop Frank Crosetti says Ruth did not call his shot

Ben Chapman started in right field for the Yankees; here's what he thinks

Chicago Cubs third baseman Woody English believes there was no called shot

Ruth's roommate Jimmie Reese calls him "the greatest...to ever play..."

America's enemies in World War II often yelled, "To hell with Babe Ruth."

The Bambino's agent writes about Ruth and Bill Dickey appearing in Pride of the Yankees

Word of the Bambino's August 14, 1948 death spread to newspapers via telegram

A Story about Babe Ruth

Inducted into Cooperstown’s Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946, Bill Carrigan managed Boston to back-to-back World Series titles

August 2nd, 2017 Leave a comment

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