Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-06-25

They repeated in S 81
1915, and in the Sc @s ''s'S'sss's
ries of that year. Babe Ruth
Babe started his as
tonishing pitching record of hurting
20 consecutive series innings without
allowing a run
This shutout pitching performance
was at the expense of the Brooklyn
Dodgers in 1916 and the Chicago
Cubs two years later. Starting
against the Dodgers. he gave them
one run the first inning, then blanked
them for the following Is.
In 1918 he shut out the Cubs for
the regulation nine innings of the
first game. He came back in the
fourth game for seven more score
less innings. He was relieved in
the ninth frame. having pitched wild
ball. But he finished the game in
left field.
Ruth has . 2O-year lifetime bat
ting average Of .346. He hit more
than 500 home runs, including those
poked out IN exhibition games. He
accounted for 50 home runs In 1897,
batting In l64 runs and hitting 1856.
But the Babe Is just as proud of
his pitching record. He claims the
best ave.year or lifetime pitching
average In the game. And he in
cludes Mathewson. Cy Young, Alex
ander. Ed Walsh, Walter johnson
and all the rest. Although he was
allowed to pitch only i've years, his
average was around TOO.
In 1919, his bat accounted for 20
homers. then major league record.
The manager of the Red Sox was
Ed Barrow. He and Owner Harry
Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees
for a record price Of $l00. 900 and
$4,000 worth Of ball players. Then
Barrow followed Ruth to the Yam.
KEGS, becoming business manager
under Col. Jacob Rupert.
With the Yanks, Babe switched to
the outfield and electrified the sports
world with his sensational hitting.
In 1921 he poled out 50 home runs.
He was rewarded with a $4,000 sal
airy for 1922.
But the next season his hitting fell
off. Baseball writer's termed his the
''busted phenomenon" Then. in 1923
he came back with 1893 average
and Al home runs.
Ruth's worst season came in 1925.
En- route home from spring train
ing, the Babe collapsed and spent
weeks in hospital from the COM
bined effects of indigestion and influ-
enza. When he returned to active
duty he staged a rip-roaring row
with Manager Miller Higgins. The
Babe was fined $4,000 for "miscon-
duct off the playing field"-the stiff
est fine ever charged against play
err. Again he was considered
through. He had hit only 200 and
had totaled only Is home runs.
Once more Ruth silenced his crit
les. In 1925 he paced one Of the
greatest teams In baseball history
into the first Of three straight PEN
nants. He batted .372 and hit AZ
home runs. The next year he was
responsible for the greatest smuggling
record Of all time-6O home runs.
According to Hugh S. Fullerton,
one Of the greatest Of all baseball
writers, Babe was careless, reck-
less, innocent-minded overgrown
boy and always tried to please
where small boys were concerned.
He once umpired a game between
two kid teams and had to be res
cued by police when more than TO-
600 youngsters crowded around to
shake his hand"
Although he cost the Yankees
$135,OO the Babe repaid the club
many times over. His lure at the
gate was responsible for Yankee sta
dium-"the house that Ruth built"
Today the Babe probably would
give half of his possessions to be
back in the big leagues. But the
memory of his past deeds should
prove sufficient solace.
SPORT SHORTS