*Babe Ruth Thread*

[drstrangelove]

What Shoeless said for sure.

Also, its this: in 1918 and prior, it made no sense for most players to try to hit homers. Ruth was accustomed to hitting as hard as he could and for distance, so he was already 'set' for the changes in 1919-1920. I'm certain that had Ruth not existed, that some other fellows would have tried to do the same somewhere in 1919-1925. He simply did it better and because he demanded more money and being in NY was able to get it, the sensationalism of it spread faster with more impact.

It's much like the Fosbury Flop in high jumping: with foam padding it became possible, but one person had to show how it was possible to perform better, first. However, in the case of Ruth, he had also the perfect swing and great batting skill, so his contemporaries could not match him.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

What Shoeless said for sure.

Also, its this: in 1918 and prior, it made no sense for most players to try to hit homers. Ruth was accustomed to hitting as hard as he could and for distance, so he was already 'set' for the changes in 1919-1920. I'm certain that had Ruth not existed, that some other fellows would have tried to do the same somewhere in 1919-1925. He simply did it better and because he demanded more money and being in NY was able to get it, the sensationalism of it spread faster with more impact.

It's much like the Fosbury Flop in high jumping: with foam padding it became possible, but one person had to show how it was possible to perform better, first. However, in the case of Ruth, he had also the perfect swing and great batting skill, so his contemporaries could not match him.

I wonder did anyone try to change Babe Ruth's style of hitting to a more slappy style when he was a young player? I wonder did Honus Wagner have more of a modern power hitter's swing? This is the only film clip that I know of that shows Wagner swinging. It doesn't look like a typical Dead Ball era slappy swing to me. I have no idea if this was a typical swing for Wagner during games?

wagnerswing2tr5a.gif

[Nimrod]

That is some great footage!I`ve never seen any film of Wagner hitting either.This clip appears to be circa 1930(long after his playing days) judging by the uniforms and number on Wagner`s back.He was a long time coach with the Pirates and liked to work out and appear in Old Timers games.Wagner is using a thin handled ash bat and is down at the knob.Here is a photo of Wagner taken in a 1931 Old Timers game-note the very thin handle and Wagner`s hands together and down at the knob just like in clip.honus 1931.jpg

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Give it a try George.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

That is some great footage!I`ve never seen any film of Wagner hitting either.This clip appears to be circa 1930(long after his playing days) judging by the uniforms and number on Wagner`s back.He was a long time coach with the Pirates and liked to work out and appear in Old Timers games.Wagner is using a thin handled ash bat and is down at the knob.Here is a photo of Wagner taken in a 1931 Old Timers game-note the very thin handle and Wagner`s hands together and down at the knob just like in clip.[ATTACH]111180[/ATTACH]

Great info, Nimrod! I never knew the year of the Wagner film clip! In the photo Wagner would be 57 years old!!!! Years ago I thought I read that when Wagner was a Pirates coach he would take bating practice and hit some absolute bombs a few over 450 ft. I'm trying to verify these stories.

[pheasant]

Give it a try George.

Wow. Ruth's writing tells me a lot. At age 15 or so, he already had truckloads of confidence in his pitching. I read somewhere that he was very upset about not getting a chance to pitch in the 1915 World Series. What a shame! They should have had him pitch against Pete Alexander. The following year in his first start ever in a World Series game at the age of 21, he pitched a 14 inning complete game and won 2-1. Afterwards, he said, "I told you I could beat those National League bums". That story to me is the most impressive one of them all. This young kid was afraid of nothing. By age 23, he had already won 80 games with an impressive .661 pct and 2.09 ERA. In addition, he had a 3-0 record and 0.87 ERA in the World Series. I still cannot believe that he got moved to the outfield during a pitcher-dominated era. He was easily the 3rd best pitcher in MLB during his prime and had proven to be very clutch. And actually, he pitched his last full season on the mound by age 22. I don't think he was old enough to peak as a pitcher. Imagine how good of a pitcher he could have been had he been given the chance to mature? I have no doubt that he would have made the Hall as a pitcher.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Wow. Ruth's writing tells me a lot. At age 15 or so, he already had truckloads of confidence in his pitching. I read somewhere that he was very upset about not getting a chance to pitch in the 1915 World Series. What a shame! They should have had him pitch against Pete Alexander. The following year in his first start ever in a World Series game at the age of 21, he pitched a 14 inning complete game and won 2-1. Afterwards, he said, "I told you I could beat those National League bums". That story to me is the most impressive one of them all. This young kid was afraid of nothing. By age 23, he had already won 80 games with an impressive .661 pct and 2.09 ERA. In addition, he had a 3-0 record and 0.87 ERA in the World Series. I still cannot believe that he got moved to the outfield during a pitcher-dominated era. He was easily the 3rd best pitcher in MLB during his prime and had proven to be very clutch. And actually, he pitched his last full season on the mound by age 22. I don't think he was old enough to peak as a pitcher. Imagine how good of a pitcher he could have been had he been given the chance to mature? I have no doubt that he would have made the Hall as a pitcher.

I guess we will never know what might have been. Had he developed, matured as a pitcher might, he would have left his mark. But again it never happened, looked like he was on his way as a very good, maybe great pitcher.

Glad to see he chose the batter's box and really left his mark on the game. I see some suggest that he might have been able to do both. Impossible, no way anyone could pitch and play other positions on days where he should be resting. Even if he did not stay with pitching every 4th or 5th day, still to demanding.
Some also bring up, the DH, if he played in that time.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

The Bam catching a ball dropped from a building in NYC, August 17,1922.
All I can say is....................must have been a good time to be in the business of selling hats.

[Nimrod]

Here is the Babe just after catching a ball dropped from an airplane on July 22,1926 at Mitchell Field on Long Island(for a world`s record).Babe-Ruth-airplane-80mph-alt-200-ft.jpg

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Most home runs off of Left Grove.
Gehrig 9---Ruth 9---Greenberg 9.
1930, Shibe Park, Babe Ruth drive clears wall in right centerfield. The ball strikes speaker supports monted on wall, bounces back on to the field. There is no ground rule covering this event, babe is sent back to second base, no home run, a double. Twice in 1930 Ruth hit drives that struck those supports, two doubles, he finished with 49 home runs, one short of his 5th season with 50 or more home runs.
Maybe a small sample but of all the hitters he faced Babe the left handed hitter managed to hit 9 home runs off of one of the best left handed pitchers in that era.
And Babe never faced lefty until his ( Ruth's) 13th season 1926.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

The club trying to rein in the Babe in 1922.
Not to clear on that one... liquors "Whether in the playing season or not", unless they accept moderate use.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Wondering where this ball turned up. Saw an interview with Ted long ago and he showed some anger.............spoke about a ball Babe gave him................."To my pal....................... Said he treasured that ball but some SOB stole the ball. Unless he did find it later. This pic was from an auction house, ball up for sale.

[SultanOfWhat]

[SultanOfWhat]

Remember this turkey?:




Well, they were a few decades too late. Imagine this beast being unleashed upon the world:




That's heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey with the Babe.

[JR Hart]

Do you have the names of the people in the 1927 picture? I recognize Gehrig, Hornsby, Huggins, McGraw and Ruth. Is that Wagner to Ruth's right (our left)?