New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-09-21
3 HOMERS ON 4
Pitched BALLS
Billy Evans Comments Oh In.
usual Play
(By Billy Evans)

The lively ball OF the majors has
been considerably curtailed but It
Will still travel II properly socked.
Had the good luck to umpire a
recent game between Philadelphia
and New York in which three sue
cessire batters made home runs.
While that merely ties major
league record, doubt II the fea,
was ever accomplished on so few
pitched balls. Incidentally each
ball cleared a different part OF the
fence.
Sam Gray, star of the Athletics'
pitching staff, was serving them. He
threw a total of four balls to Bob
Meusel, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
OF the Yankees and three home runs
were the result.
Bob Meusel hit the first ball
pitched 10 him, a curve inside. into
the left field bleachers. 1t went
into the upper tier and was a real
home run on any mans grounds.
Babe Ruth was the next batter.
He fouled off a slow curve, then
hit a bast ball In his groove" on
a line over the right field fence.
It was line drive home run, not
a towering ny, as are many of
Ruth's circuit couts.
Lou Gehrig connected with the
first ball pitched. q fast one on the
outside and drove the ball over the
center field fence. 1t was the long
est wallop Of the three.
Three home runs by successive
batters on four pitched balls off one
OF the greatest pitchers in the ma
jors Is truly most unusual feat.
Fear OF Jinx
Pitchers are superstitious. Sam
Gray is no exception to the rule.
After Meusel had made the first
home run he walked to the plate
and addressing the umpire, said:
Don't give me any more of those
home run balls" Reaching into my
pocket I selected ball at random
and tossed it to him.
After Ruth had weakly fouled the
first pitch. he proceeded to hit his
circuit drive. Walking UP to the
plate Gray half in Jest and equally
serious, said:
Let me see II can pick one that
won't turn out to be homer" With
a smile I held four balls in my hand
and he took one Of them.
Lou Gehrig proceeded to immedi-
ately knock it out of the park for
the third successive home run Of
the inning. AS Gray watch the ball
pass over the center field fence, he
Remarked:
Guess they are all the same.
anyone will do" Again l tossed one
at random. Ben Paschal dented
the fence for two bases. 1t was as
hard hit as any Of the three previ-
Gus homers.
In all his career | doubt it Pitch
er Sam Gray experienced quite the
same feeling as he underwent when
the trio OF Yankee sluggers connect
ed for successive home runs.
Speaking OF Babe
Speaking of Babe Ruth, perhaps
it was fancy fine and an indefinite
suspension that was needed to bring
the big fellow back to earth.
have been umpiring with the
Yankees ever since Ruth was rein
stated and / do not hesitate to say
that the brand Of ball he has played
in September far surpasses any
thing he previously had on display.
During the Today suspension
Ruth watched his diet, worked hard
every day and took off at least 10
pounds. 1t seemed all of it came
off at the waistline. AS result
there is much of the old time
rhythm to his swing.
When I commented upon his ap-
parent ICNul u ~ loi III llit l'dbN
smiled and seemed to appreciate my
complimentary words, because he
replied:
Am training Just like one OF
them there college athletes. To bed
before IL and light on the eats with
no liquid refreshments"
Ruth means much to baseball. He
Is the games greatest drawing card.
Even rival magnates and players
are hoping he comes back witt, a
vengeance. He means real money
at the gate.
Ruth seems more than sincere IN
his efforts to live down the criticism
that has been heaped upon him In
his recent difficulty with the Yankee
management