Baseball 101: Bambino’s First Big Fly
May 6, 2016
One hundred and one years ago—May 6, 1915—a 20-year old pitcher named George Ruth stepped to the plate for the Boston Red Sox. It was the young lefty’s first full season in the big leagues and just his 18th at bat. Then, as now, pitchers were paid to pitch, and very few were adept hitters. So when that kid pitcher crushed his first home run into the right field bleachers at New York City’s Polo Grounds, people took notice. That young pitcher—who had already earned the nickname “Babe” for his youthful appearance—strode around the bases like he’d done it before. He hadn’t, but he would do it again 713 more times. After that game, New York American sportswriter Damon Runyan commented on the Babe’s rare hitting prowess: “Fanning [striking out] this Ruth is not as easy as the name and the occupation might indicate.”
Babe Ruth was also known as the Bambino or the Sultan of Swat.
Credit: AP Photo
Babe Ruth, of course, went on to become one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He began his career as a starting pitcher, however, and a very good one. He won 18 games his rookie season, and 23 more with an American League-leading 1.75 ERA in 1916. By 1918, however, batting once ever four games wasn’t enough for Ruth, or the Red Sox. He began playing the outfield in-between pitching starts, and soon other teams began fearing his bat more than his arm.
With Ruth, the Red Sox won the World Series in 1915, 1916, and again in 1918. Mistakenly thinking their charmed life was permanent, the Red Sox sold Ruth to the New York Yankees after the 1919 season. Ruth flourished with the Yankees, who made him a full-time outfielder, and the Yankees flourished with him. During Ruth’s 15 seasons as a Yankee, the team played in 7 World Series and won 4 of them. The Red Sox went the other direction, failing to win another World Series until 2004.
Ruth led the American league in home runs in 1918, 1919, and 10 more times over the next 12 seasons. His 1927 record of 60 stood until Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961. He hit 714 career home runs: 659 with the Yankees, 49 with the Red Sox, and 6 in his final season as a Boston Brave. His career home run total was the most ever until Hank Aaron hit number 715 in 1974. The Babe made the home run the most popular and exciting play in baseball, hence the homer’s many appellations: big fly, dinger, goner, gopher ball, moon shot, round-tripper, tater, and so on…
For the record. Ruth started four games as a pitcher for the Yankees (one each in 1920, 1921, 1930, and 1933), and appeared once in relief. His record in those five games? 5-0. Oh, and the Babe’s first home run 101 years ago? It was against the Yankees.
