Charlie Root

CooperstownExpert.com
Birthdate 3/17/1899
Death Date 11/5/1970
Debut Year 1923
Year of Induction
Teams Browns, Cubs
Position Pitcher

The Cubs franchise career leader in wins, games, & innings pitched, Charlie Root was the last man born in the 1800s to win a Major League game.

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Charlie Root has the most wins, games, and innings pitched in Cubs history

Charlie Root has the most wins, games, and innings pitched in Cubs history

Charlie Root is best known in baseball history as the man to surrender Babe Ruth’s called shot. That’s unfortunate for the man who still holds Chicago Cubs franchise career records in wins, games, and innings pitched. The last player born in the 19th century to win a Major League game, R
As a child Root played prisoner's base, fox and geese, bull in ring, and run sheep run

As a child Root played prisoner's base, fox and geese, bull in ring, and run sheep run

In this questionnaire from 1938, Charlie Root checks off his 29 games and activities including such mainstream sports as football and both ice and land hockey. Root also identifies such bygone games as prisoner’s base, fox and geese, bull in ring, rolling hope, and run sheep run. In the bottom
Charlie Root is the first and only 200-game winner in Chicago Cubs history

Charlie Root is the first and only 200-game winner in Chicago Cubs history

Here Charlie Root is asked to put an “X” next to activities in which he participated in from grades 1-4 and an “O” in the games he played in fourth grade or after. The only Chicago Cub pitcher to win as many as 200 games, Root had a busy childhood. Among the activities he played before and after fourth grade are pocket
Charlie Root pitched in four World Series for Chicago from 1929-1938

Charlie Root pitched in four World Series for Chicago from 1929-1938

Much more than merely the man who surrendered Babe Ruth’s called shot, Charlie Root had his best season in 1927, when he won 26 games. He had a career-low 2.60 ERA in 1933 while winning 15 games. During his time in Chicago he went to four World Series. On this page Root identifies his favori
Charlie Root was the last man born in the 1800s to win an MLB game

Charlie Root was the last man born in the 1800s to win an MLB game

In page five of the questionnaire, Charlie Root rates himself as “very good” at baseball, “average” at golf, and “good” at swimming. The final question asks the player, “Do you believe your athletics are instructive or hereditary?” To this the 201-game winner responds “instructive” explaining, “As there were no
Root gave up Ruth's

Root gave up Ruth's "Called Shot" in the 1932 World Series

Did Babe Ruth call his shot off of Charlie Root in the 1932 World Series? It depends who you ask. In the following pieces the debate will be answered from a number of players who played in that game. There is plenty of support from both sides of the aisle. Shown here is an autographed photo of the B
In Game 3 Joe Sewell hit 2nd in the Yankee lineup, one spot ahead of Ruth

In Game 3 Joe Sewell hit 2nd in the Yankee lineup, one spot ahead of Ruth

Perhaps Babe 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 ball pitched by Charlie Root? Hitting in front of Ruth that day was Joe Sewell who d
Sewell on the Called Shot:

Sewell on the Called Shot: "There was no myth to it as I saw it all"

The vivid details of this letter continue on the second page as Joe Sewell details Babe Ruth’s uncomfortable trip circling the bases after the homerun. “…on his way home the fans threw cabbage, lemons, eggs, hats, and everything they had on the field until the umpires called the game and the g
Chicago pitcher Guy Bush weighs in on the Bambino's Called Shot

Chicago pitcher Guy Bush weighs in on the Bambino's Called Shot

Agreement was hard to find, even among the opposing Chicago Cub players. Pitcher Guy Bush seemed to corroborate Joe Sewell’s testimony in taking a less certain stance. “(Babe) Ruth was talking to me,” Root wrote. “At the time when he raised his right hand it is of my belief h
Yankee shortstop Frank Crosetti says Ruth did NOT call his shot

Yankee shortstop Frank Crosetti says Ruth did NOT call his shot

Cubs pitcher Guy Bush and Yankee third baseman Joe Sewell agree. Some take that as proof that Ruth called his shot. Not so fast. Yankee shortstop Frank Crosetti does not back up his teammate Ruth. “Joe Sewell is wrong,” writes Crosetti who hit 8th in the lineup that day. “When (Cha
Yankee right fielder Ben Chapman is undecided about the called shot

Yankee right fielder Ben Chapman is undecided about the called shot

Ben Chapman was undecided really about Babe Ruth’s called shot. The right fielder hit seventh in the New York lineup that day and wrote, “He was pointing at Charley (sic) Root who had knocked him down.” However, Chapman wasn’t entirely certain. Later in the letter he writes, “In my opinion, he did not call the shot, but he
Cub third baseman Woody English believes there was no called shot

Cub third baseman Woody English believes there was no called shot

Playing third base that day for the Cubs was Woody English. He appeared in Major League Baseball’s first All Star game in 1933 and played in two World Series. English finished with 1,356 career hits and a .286 lifetime average. English forever discounted the idea of Babe Ruth calling his shot

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

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