*Babe Ruth Thread*

[SultanOfWhat]

Thanks, guys. For some reason, I can ID the 3B side of Griffith more easily than the 1B side.

[SultanOfWhat]

The Hardball Times has an article posted 10 days ago entitled "The Babe at Fenway and other home run stories", which discusses how tough old Fenway was on Ruth's HR numbers, and why he exploded when he went to NY:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...e-run-stories/

Here's an interesting player-rating page that lists the top 500 position players and pitchers. Ruth is atop the 500 players list with 172.0 WAR (edging out B****s), which doesn't take into account Ruth's additional value as a pitcher (18.0 WAR).

One interesting thing about Ruth's player card that explains the rating is that Ruth is rated as an excellent outfielder (+79 in Total Zone), whereas, for example, Ty Cobb is rated as an absolute neutral, 0.

http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/playerindex.htm

Babe's page:
http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/r/ruthb101.htm

[SHOELESSJOE3]

The Hardball Times has an article posted 10 days ago entitled "The Babe at Fenway and other home run stories", which discusses how tough old Fenway was on Ruth's HR numbers, and why he exploded when he went to NY:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...e-run-stories/

Here's an interesting player-rating page that lists the top 500 position players and pitchers. Ruth is atop the 500 players list with 172.0 WAR (edging out B****s), which doesn't take into account Ruth's additional value as a pitcher (18.0 WAR).

One interesting thing about Ruth's player card that explains the rating is that Ruth is rated as an excellent outfielder (+79 in Total Zone), whereas, for example, Ty Cobb is rated as an absolute neutral, 0.

http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/playerindex.htm

Babe's page:
http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/r/ruthb101.htm

As of 1996, most home runs by a visitor at Fenway Park.

Babe Ruth-------------38
Mickey Mantle---------38
Harmon Killebrew-------37
Al Kaline---------------30
Joe Dimaggio-----------29

Ruth is the only left handed hitter on the list. No splits for Mantle, left or right handed.
To be considered, what ever Ruth hit as a visitor was over 15 years, 1920-1934.

Joe Dimaggio for the Right handed hitters, did well, only 13 years in MLB.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Babe in the years he was a pitcher only. Only 28 games started in 1915, 1916 he had 41 starts and 38 starts in 1917.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Babe at the Polo Grds. 1935

[SultanOfWhat]

Just wanted to note that Sean Smith (one of the most respected SABR people, especially for his player defense analysis) has updated his all-time Top 500 position players and Top 500 pitchers wins above replacement through the 2009 season:

http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/playerindex.htm

Ruth sits atop the position players at 172.0 WAR, even before his 18.0 WAR from pitching is added in.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

In June of 1920 he said he would hit at least 40, he hit 54.

Now he's really talking, January 1921 he predicts 60.

In 1921 he finished with 59 and lost one home run July 5 when a fan attempting to catch one of his drives knocked the ball back on to the playing field.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Two 5 for 5 games for Ruth.

One especially a tough loss for a pitcher, the 1918 game, ten inning loss. At the plate, one single, 3 doubles and a triple.
Ruth went all the way, Johnson pinch hit in the 9th, his sac fly tied the game, then Johnson pitched the 10th inning.
Johnson retired the first two batters then faced Babe. Ruth hit his third double of the game but was thrown out on an attempted steal of third.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

His longest streak.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Matty on The Babe.

[SultanOfWhat]

See story on left. I knew Ruth had the bottles thrown at him from the newspaper clippings posted on this thread, but I didn't know he made a "great catch" to end the game.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

[QUOTE=SultanOfWhat;1660565]See story on left. I knew Ruth had the bottles thrown at him from the newspaper clippings posted on this thread, but I didn't know he made a "great catch" to end the game.]

I did post some articles on the catch a few weeks ago. There are two Babe Ruth threads going, maybe I posted on the other thread.
Anyway, not much riding on the catch, the Yanks were up 3 games to none and were leading this game 7-3 and two outs in the 9th, Babe still goes all out.

Two articles here, NY and Washington papers. What is missing here, as Ruth was running down the ball along the grandstand, a blizzard of torn pieces of paper, scorebooks tossed his way, by Card fans, an attempt to distract him. Also he was playing on bad legs,one taped up, before the WS some doubt he would play every game.
His day, 3 home runs. The quick pitch the Cards tried to sneak pass him, not allowed in the WS and Ruth walking out to the pitchers mound to taunt the irate Cards who were all over the ump. Walks back to the plate, he and Card pitcher Sherdel continue the war of words, next pitch Ruth homers over the RF pavillion.

What about Lou Gehrig who Ruth later praises in the locker room interview.
Lou's last 8 plate appearances.

HR
HR
BB
BB
BB
BB
BB
HR
Gound out, they finally retire Lou.

On the catch by Ruth to end the game.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

A bit more on the bottles thrown. At one time Babe picked up a bottle, reared back and faked a throw in to the grandstand, many ducked. He then tossed the bottle aside and grinned, now they cheered him, the master showman, he won them over.

Later in the clubhouse he yelled, "I told them I would hit two today, and I hit three."

Here he is, some give and take with the Card fans.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Could it end any other way. It was Babe Ruth Day at Fenway and the greatest crowd pleaser the game has ever seen gave them what they came for. A long opposite field home run with the game tied 3-3 off a tough lefty Williams who was 23-11 in 1919.

[SultanOfWhat]

Could this be the clock in the article (atop the LF wall)?



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