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

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

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

Bill Carrigan played catcher for the Boston Red Sox for a decade from 1906-1916. He also served as the club’s skipper for seven seasons, four of which were in the capacity of player-manager. During that time he helped Boston win three World Series championships. The much-respected Carrigan also holds the distinction of being the first manager for the game’s greatest player — Babe Ruth.
The baseball landscape changed when Ruth was sold to the Yankees on December 26, 1919

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

A prodigious signer, Babe Ruth autographs can be found on virtually every medium. Everything he signed continues to increase in value due to sustained demand. Of particular interest are autographed pictures of the Bambino. Ruth had copies of this photo that he signed later in life. Most of the examp
Ruth's roommate Jimmie Reese calls him

Ruth's roommate Jimmie Reese calls him "the greatest baseball player to ever play the game"

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

Ruth teammate Joe Sewell weighs in on the called shot

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 who describes in perfect detail exactly what happened. “ ‘Yes’
Page two of Sewell's handwritten letter about the Called Shot

Page two of Sewell's handwritten letter about the Called Shot

The vivid details of this letter continue on the second page as Sewell details 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 ground kee
Chicago pitcher Guy Bush supports Sewell

Chicago pitcher Guy Bush supports Sewell

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. “Ruth was talking to me,” Bush wrote. “At the time when he raised his right hand it is of my belief he poi
Fellow Yankee Frank Crosetti says Ruth did not call his shot

Fellow Yankee Frank Crosetti says Ruth did not call his shot

Not so fast. “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 not point to center field,” says fellow Yankee Frank Crosetti, the starting shortstop and number eight hitter in the lin
Frank Crosetti earned 17 World Series rings as a player and coach for the Yankees

Frank Crosetti earned 17 World Series rings as a player and coach for the Yankees

Above is an autographed image of New York shortstop Frank Crosetti. Affectionately known as “Crow”, he played 17 years for the Yankees, five as Ruth’s teammate. A two-time all star and later a Yankee third base coach, Crow was with the team from 1932 to 1964. He was part of 17
Ben Chapman started in right field for the Yankees; here's what he thinks

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

Ben Chapman was undecided really. 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,
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 who forever discounted the idea of Ruth calling his shot. “…he held two fingers up saying that’s only 2 strikes. The press box was some 200 feet up in the stands and the newspaper men thought he pointed, but he did not.”
Autographed Goudey reprint depicting Woody English in 1932

Autographed Goudey reprint depicting Woody English in 1932

Woody English autographed this 1933 Goudey baseball card reprint depicting him in the 1932 season. English appeared in Major League Baseball’s first All Star game in 1933 and played in two World Series. He finished with 1356 career hits and a .286 lifetime average. The third baseman twice led th
Ruth was the most famous man in the world

Ruth was the most famous man in the world

Imagine what $1,000 could buy at the height of the Great Depression. Babe Ruth made out this personal check to his wife Claire on July 1, 1937 for just that amount. Signed “GH Ruth”, as was typical for legal documents, the check bears the name “Babe Ruth” on the left side.
The Bambino's agent Christy Walsh writes about Ruth and Bill Dickey appearing in Pride of the Yankees

The Bambino's agent Christy Walsh 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 has agreed to appear in the Lou Gehrig biopic that would eventually be titled, Pride of the Yankees.
Actual telegram announcing Babe Ruth's death

Actual telegram announcing Babe Ruth's death

This telegram dated August 16, 1948 states, “Baseball King George Herman Ruth passed away today after a lengthy illness. Death cause in next telegraph following A.P. press release.” Only 53 years old at the time of his death, Babe Ruth was one of the most recognizable

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

Bill Carrigan

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 […]

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

~Jacques Barzun, 1954