For many years, since 1947 to be exact, April 27th has been celebrated by baseball fans everywhere. Why you ask? Well, it’s National Babe Ruth Day, a day that honors the legendary ball player, who spent 22 years in the MLB. And in the honor of the famous ball played we’re recounting the major hitters first time at bat.
It was July 11 in 1914, 19-year-old George Herman Babe Ruth, Jr., made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in a home game at Fenway Park. Though he was mostly regarded throughout his illustrious career for the damage he inflicted on opposing pitchers, that day Ruth went 0-2 at the plate. However, he proved right away he had exceptional skills on the mound, pitching seven strong innings, scattering eight hits and giving up three runs to the visiting Cleveland Indians, as the Red Sox prevailed 4-3.
Known throughout his life for his colorful personality, imposing size and wild-man ways away from the baseball diamond, fans in Beantown never got to fully appreciate Ruth, because in 1919 ingenious Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold his contract to the New York Yankees for $125,000. The reason for the sale was Frazee desire to finance the musical No, No, Nanette.
For 10 of the next 12 baseball seasons, the Bambino hit more home runs for the Yanks than the entire Red Sox team combined, and he also led New York to four World Series titles. Even after his retirement from the game in 1935, many continued to regard Babe Ruth as the greatest all-around player in the history of the game.
Remember the Very First Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium (1947)