Guy Bush
| Birthdate | 8/23/1901 |
| Death Date | 7/2/1985 |
| Debut Year | 1923 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Pirates, Reds |
| Position | Pitcher |
Guy Bush posted double-digit win totals in 10 straight seasons from 1926-35 and received consideration in MVP balloting in 1929, ’32, and ’33.
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Cubs pitcher Guy Bush weighs in on Babe Ruth's called shot in the 1932 World Series
Cubs pitcher Guy Bush weighs in on Babe Ruth's called shot in the 1932 World Series
Guy Bush enjoyed a 17-year big league career. The right-hander debuted in 1923 just three weeks after his 21st birthday. By 1926, Bush hit his stride.
During the ten-year period from ’26-’35, Bush won 155 games, with all but 11 of the victories coming for the Cubs. The hurler also appeared in both the 1929 World Series against the Cardinals, and the 1932 affair against the Yankees.
In Game 3 of the ’32 Series, Babe Ruth hit one of the most famous homers in the history of the game. The Bambino and the Cubs players jawed at each other for much of the contest. Ruth hit two homers off of Charlie Root in that game, the second coming in the 5th inning.
That fifth inning bomb became known as the, “Called Shot”. But did the Bambino actually point to centerfield before hitting it or was it simply Ruth berating the Chicago players?
Right-handed pitcher Guy Bush was sitting in the Cubs dugout when the Bambino hit the mythical homer.
In the collection is the handwritten note from Bush in which he writes, “Ruth was talking to me,” Bush wrote. “At the time when he raised his right hand it is of my belief he pointed to center field. The only thing I am sure of he hit the next pitch in centerfield stands.”
Bush’s version of the event seems to match with that of Ruth teammate Joe Sewell whose letter supports Bush.
For more letters from men who played in the game, click here. You’ll see where Ruth teammates Joe Sewell, Ben Chapman, and Frank Crosetti stand and also see what Cub teammate Woody English believes he saw.
Former Yankee Joe Sewell supports Bush and says teammate Babe Ruth and the called shot
Former Yankee Joe Sewell supports Bush and says teammate Babe Ruth and the called shot
Hitting in front of Ruth that day was Joe Sewell who describes in perfect detail exactly what happened. Sewell corroborates Bush’s version of events as he writes, “Babe Ruth never said a word to Charlie Root the pitcher but he was cussing Burley (sic) Grimes, Bob Smith, and Guy Bush who was on their bench cussing Ruth.”
Sewell goes on to confirm his belief that the Bambino called his shot.“ ‘Yes’ “ Babe Ruth pointed to the centerfield and I have a mental picture of the ball going out of the park…,” Sewell states on the first page of his two-page handwritten recollection.
The rest of the letter is penned with perfect detail.
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 Joe Sewell details Babe Ruth’s uncomfortable trip circling the bases after the home run. “…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 keepers had to come out and clean it all up.”
At the close of the letter, Joe Sewell sums up his take saying, “There was no myth to it as I saw it all”.
For more letters from men who played in the game, click here. You’ll see where Ruth teammates Joe Sewell, Ben Chapman, and Frank Crosetti stand and also see what Cub teammate Woody English believes he saw.
