82 years ago today

[vuduchile 1,941]

On May 25, 1935, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Babe Ruth hits his 714th home run, a record for career home runs that would stand for almost 40 years. This was one of Ruths last games, and the last home run of his career. Ruth went four for four on the day, hitting three home runs and driving in six runs.

 

But, this is all dismissed since it happened so long ago against a bunch of white guys.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I thought you were telling us about the day HT was born.

[Voltaire 4,557]

Bless you Babe Ruth.

Bless you Hank Aaron.

Fock off Barry Bonds.

[Cruzer 1,992]

This milestone is also cheapened by the fact everyone else in the league was killing these slow ass, white chump pitchers too... I think Ruth was one of what, 125 guys back then that hit 714 HRs?

[NewbieJr 540]

Damn, I came here all ready to wish Phurfur/Baker Boy a Happy Birthday.

[posty 2,296]

Now third all-time...

 

But still a great milestone...

[Voltaire 4,557]

He hit the last (3) home runs of his career in May? I suspect we'll have the 82nd anniversary of a career ending injury in the works in a few days.

[vuduchile 1,941]

This milestone is also cheapened by the fact everyone else in the league was killing these slow ass, white chump pitchers too... I think Ruth was one of what, 125 guys back then that hit 714 HRs?

 

Yeah. Guys like him were a dime a dozen.

[posty 2,296]

He hit the last (3) home runs of his career in May? I suspect we'll have the 82nd anniversary of a career ending injury in the works in a few days.

This is from Wiki...

 

Ruth had two hits in the second game of the season, but it quickly went downhill both for him and the Braves from there. The season soon settled down to a routine of Ruth performing poorly on the few occasions he even played at all, and the Braves losing most games. As April passed into May, Ruth's deterioration became even more pronounced. While he remained productive at the plate early on, he could do little else. His condition had deteriorated to the point that he could barely trot around the bases. His fielding had become so poor that three Braves pitchers told McKechnie that they would not take the mound if he was in the lineup. Before long, Ruth stopped hitting as well. He grew increasingly annoyed that McKechnie ignored most of his advice.[167] For his part, McKechnie later said that Ruth's huge salary and refusal to stay with the team while on the road made it nearly impossible to enforce discipline.[168]

 

Ruth soon realized that Fuchs had deceived him, and had no intention of making him manager or giving him any significant off-field duties. He later stated that his only duties as vice president consisted of making public appearances and autographing tickets.[169] Ruth also found out that far from giving him a share of the profits, Fuchs wanted him to invest some of his money in the team in a last-ditch effort to improve its balance sheet.[170] As it turned out, both Fuchs and Ruppert had known all along that Ruth's non-playing positions were meaningless.[171]

 

By the end of the first month of the season, Ruth concluded he was finished even as a part-time player. As early as May 12, he asked Fuchs to let him retire.[170] Ultimately, Fuchs persuaded Ruth to remain at least until after the Memorial Day doubleheader in Philadelphia. In the interim was a western road trip, at which the rival teams had scheduled days to honor him. In Chicago and St. Louis, Ruth performed poorly, and his batting average sank to .155, with only three home runs. In the first two games in Pittsburgh, Ruth had only one hit, though a long fly caught by Paul Waner probably would have been a home run in any other ballpark besides Forbes Field.[172]

 

Ruth played in the third game of the Pittsburgh series on May 25, 1935, and added one more tale to his playing legend. Ruth went 4-for-4, including three home runs, though the Braves lost the game 11–7. The last two were off Ruth's old Cubs nemesis, Guy Bush. The final home run, both of the game and of Ruth's career, sailed over the upper deck in right field and out of the ballpark, the first time anyone had hit a fair ball completely out of Forbes Field. Ruth was urged to make this his last game, but he had given his word to Fuchs and played in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. The first game of the doubleheader in Philadelphia—the Braves lost both—was his final major league appearance. On June 2, after an argument with Fuchs, Ruth retired. He finished 1935 with a .181 average—easily his worst as a full-time position player—and the final six of his 714 home runs. The Braves, 10–27 when Ruth left, finished 38–115, at .248 the worst winning percentage in modern National League history.[173] Insolvent like his team, Fuchs gave up control of the Braves before the end of the season; the National League took over the franchise at the end of the year.[174]

[Voltaire 4,557]

This milestone is also cheapened by the fact everyone else in the league was killing these slow ass, white chump pitchers too... I think Ruth was one of what, 125 guys back then that hit 714 HRs?

That's not how it worked. Not a lot of sluggers in Ruth's heyday.

 

I pulled a year out of my ass during Babe's prime ... 1930... he came in second that year, 49 HRs to Hack Wilson's 56. They only had ten guys with more than 30 HRs and only 19 with more than 20.

 

http://www.thebaseballnexus.com/home_runs/1930

[dain11279 927]

'Roids

[Hardcore troubadour 12,631]

I thought you were telling us about the day HT was born.

Poor effort. You're better than that weak sauce.

[Voltaire 4,557]

This is from Wiki...

 

Ruth had two hits in the second game of the season, but it quickly went downhill both for him and the Braves from there. The season soon settled down to a routine of Ruth performing poorly on the few occasions he even played at all, and the Braves losing most games. As April passed into May, Ruth's deterioration became even more pronounced. While he remained productive at the plate early on, he could do little else. His condition had deteriorated to the point that he could barely trot around the bases. His fielding had become so poor that three Braves pitchers told McKechnie that they would not take the mound if he was in the lineup. Before long, Ruth stopped hitting as well. He grew increasingly annoyed that McKechnie ignored most of his advice.[167] For his part, McKechnie later said that Ruth's huge salary and refusal to stay with the team while on the road made it nearly impossible to enforce discipline.[168]

 

Ruth soon realized that Fuchs had deceived him, and had no intention of making him manager or giving him any significant off-field duties. He later stated that his only duties as vice president consisted of making public appearances and autographing tickets.[169] Ruth also found out that far from giving him a share of the profits, Fuchs wanted him to invest some of his money in the team in a last-ditch effort to improve its balance sheet.[170] As it turned out, both Fuchs and Ruppert had known all along that Ruth's non-playing positions were meaningless.[171]

 

By the end of the first month of the season, Ruth concluded he was finished even as a part-time player. As early as May 12, he asked Fuchs to let him retire.[170] Ultimately, Fuchs persuaded Ruth to remain at least until after the Memorial Day doubleheader in Philadelphia. In the interim was a western road trip, at which the rival teams had scheduled days to honor him. In Chicago and St. Louis, Ruth performed poorly, and his batting average sank to .155, with only three home runs. In the first two games in Pittsburgh, Ruth had only one hit, though a long fly caught by Paul Waner probably would have been a home run in any other ballpark besides Forbes Field.[172]

 

Ruth played in the third game of the Pittsburgh series on May 25, 1935, and added one more tale to his playing legend. Ruth went 4-for-4, including three home runs, though the Braves lost the game 11–7. The last two were off Ruth's old Cubs nemesis, Guy Bush. The final home run, both of the game and of Ruth's career, sailed over the upper deck in right field and out of the ballpark, the first time anyone had hit a fair ball completely out of Forbes Field. Ruth was urged to make this his last game, but he had given his word to Fuchs and played in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. The first game of the doubleheader in Philadelphia—the Braves lost both—was his final major league appearance. On June 2, after an argument with Fuchs, Ruth retired. He finished 1935 with a .181 average—easily his worst as a full-time position player—and the final six of his 714 home runs. The Braves, 10–27 when Ruth left, finished 38–115, at .248 the worst winning percentage in modern National League history.[173] Insolvent like his team, Fuchs gave up control of the Braves before the end of the season; the National League took over the franchise at the end of the year.[174]

 

 

This is sad.

 

Until this post, I hadn't realized his career had ended in indignity like this.

[Cruzer 1,992]

That's not how it worked. Not a lot of sluggers in Ruth's heyday.

 

I pulled a year out of my ass during Babe's prime ... 1930... he came in second that year, 49 HRs to Hack Wilson's 56. They only had ten guys with more than 30 HRs and only 19 with more than 20.

 

http://www.thebaseballnexus.com/home_runs/1930

I think you missed my tongue-in-cheek...

[posty 2,296]

This is sad.

 

Until this post, I hadn't realized his career had ended in indignity like this.

Same here...

[Drizzay 645]

 

 

This is sad.

 

Until this post, I hadn't realized his career had ended in indignity like this.

 

I actually didn't know he last played for the Braves.

[vuduchile 1,941]

 

 

This is sad.

 

Until this post, I hadn't realized his career had ended in indignity like this.

Oh yeah. He was a shell of his former self at the end.

 

Both he and Mantle went out in similar inglorious fashion.

 

eta: looks like Ruth's last campaign was a little worse than Mantle's, but Mickey only hit .237 in his final season. That knocked him down to .298 lifetime.

[vuduchile 1,941]

 

I actually didn't know he last played for the Braves.

Yep. The Boston Braves.

[shotsup 832]

Yep. The Boston Braves.

Then Milwaukee Braves before Atlanta

[shotsup 832]

 

 

This is sad.

 

Until this post, I hadn't realized his career had ended in indignity like this.

About 20 years ago there was an old guy hanging at our bar (we called him old man Joe) and he grew up in Hells Kitchen and he told us incredible stories about Babe Ruth. He brought in a ton of autographs and stuff.

Apparently as big as a star as he was he was a regular guy in the nieghborhood.

And sadly yes he really deteriorated rather quickly.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Poor effort. You're better than that weak sauce.

 

No, I am not.

[Mungwater 588]

 

 

This is sad.

 

Until this post, I hadn't realized his career had ended in indignity like this.

Then to have your biography made into a movie and be portrayed by John fvcking goodman

[RaiderHaters Revenge 3,579]

so wait you mean there was a time when players just retired and didn't have to do farewell tours in every city?

 

no way