100 years ago today, Babe Ruth made his Major League Debut

[the 'stache]

The Babe tossing for the Boston Red Sox

On July 11, 1914, Babe Ruth made his Major League debut pitching for the Red Sox. He pitched seven innings giving up 8 hits and two earned runs. He struck out one, and didn't walk any batters. He was also 0-2 at the plate, and was lifted for a pinch hitter Duffy Lewis.

In honor of the most popular sports star in American history, let's see your Babe Ruth collectibles!

[Leon]

"what did you find under there?"

[scooter729]

Here's the Boston Globe lead from 100 years ago..... Interesting to see that a slew of injuries in 1914 may have forced the Sox president to pay more than he wanted for Ruth's services, since he was so otherwise shorthanded at the time....

[packs]

One of my favorite photos. Here's the Babe signing autographs for soldiers while he was in the National Guard. Each bat has the name of the army base where they're headed. Really neat photo and shows that there were at one time lots of bats signed by Ruth in circulation. Not a medium we typically think of when it comes to pre-war autographs.

And to make it sweeter, the photo was taken on my birthday in 1926.

[bbpostcards]

The postcard is postmarked from Boston on July 11, 1914 at 5:30 p.m. At 10 a.m. that morning Babe Ruth arrived in Boston and pitched that afternoon in his first major league game. The left handed batter shown on the front is often described as Babe Ruth, but the postmark disproves that belief. For early postcards and more, visit http://www.sportingoregon.com/

[clydepepper]

CJ Ruth.jpg
L Ruth.jpg
G Ruth.jpg

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by packs

One of my favorite photos. Here's the Babe signing autographs for soldiers while he was in the National Guard. Each bat has the name of the army base where they're headed. Really neat photo and shows that there were at one time lots of bats signed by Ruth in circulation. Not a medium we typically think of when it comes to pre-war autographs.

And to make it sweeter, the photo was taken on my birthday in 1926.

That's a fascinating picture, Packs. It makes me wonder how many Ruth signed bats there still are, locked away in private collections.

---------------------------------

I think it would be interesting to see how both the Boston Globe and the New York Times mark today's anniversary in their print editions. Maybe some of our members who reside in those parts would be so kind as to scan any articles they find commemorating Ruth's first day in the bigs.

What's the mood like in Boston today? Is seeing a young and fit Babe in a Sox uniform a somber reminder of what they had and gave away? Or, has winning the Series three times since 2004 dulled the pain that came with their 86 year dry spell?

[CW]

[ZachS]

That photo of Babe signing bats is very cool!

My Ruth stuff:

[GasHouseGang]

To go along with the 100th anniversary, here is a link to some recently uncovered archival footage showing Ruth and Gehring on June 1st of the 1925 season.

http://baseballresearcher.blogspot.c...e-footage.html

Enjoy!

[MattyC]

[DeanH3]

Matt, I would never get tired of seeing that Ruth. Just awesome.

[clydepepper]

Buck Herzog, nope....

Babe knows 'fat ass' - and I thank him for his support:

Babe Pillow.jpg

[clydepepper]

Babe n Lou (1).jpg

[ullmandds]

Happy anniversary george!

[wonkaticket]

Pete, are you taking the Jay angle now? Jay has is thumb we have your palm and Leon has his quarter. Nice card BTW.

[Runscott]

Here's an autograph of the guy who pinch-hit for him in that game:

[ullmandds]

ha ha...no new M.O. for me...I was merely cradling my babe...after giving him a bath!!!

[SteveMitchell]

A treasury of baseball info, Baseball-Reference.com provides the box score to Babe Ruth's major league debut: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...91407110.shtml

Attendance for the game was "not given" and the contest was completed in one hour, thirty-three minutes. There were 16 hits, 10 strikeouts and 2 walks (plus 5 errors) in just 93 minutes - clearly demonstrating that a 4-3 dead ball era game could be exciting! Of course, ballplayers in 1914 had the advantage of playing without batting helmets, batting gloves, arm and foot protectors (to be constantly adjusted and/or removed), and perhaps a dozen or fewer balls were used in the course of the entire event.

[benchod]

Originally Posted by Leon

"what did you find under there?"

Looks more like Babe "when the husband comes home" to me

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by SteveMitchell

A treasury of baseball info, Baseball-Reference.com provides the box score to Babe Ruth's major league debut: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...91407110.shtml

Attendance for the game was "not given" and the contest was completed in one hour, thirty-three minutes. There were 16 hits, 10 strikeouts and 2 walks (plus 5 errors) in just 93 minutes - clearly demonstrating that a 4-3 dead ball era game could be exciting! Of course, ballplayers in 1914 had the advantage of playing without batting helmets, batting gloves, arm and foot protectors (to be constantly adjusted and/or removed), and perhaps a dozen or fewer balls were used in the course of the entire event.

Trivia question: Only two pitchers in history have pitched for at least ten years without ever having a losing season. On a technicality, the Babe is the first one, who is the second?

[packs]

Tim Hudson.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by packs

Tim Hudson.

Correct!

[packs]

Haha I'm a big fan of his. Babe's not bad company to keep.

[LincolnVT]

Here is my contribution to the thread.

Ethan

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Attachment 152293

This photo also captures the first time the phrase "weapons of mass destruction" entered the English lexicon.

[tedzan]

Oct 1, 1932....Wrigley Field....Root vs Ruth....you know the rest of the story



1932 Sanella Margarine



1934 BB mag cover



"Hey Mom, look what I got for a penny at the candy store"......Spring of 1949


1951....you don't see this "Babe" too often





Even in retirement, the Babe is still hitting the ball 200 yards






1948....the Babe in Hollywood







A must read for all Babe Ruth fans (and if your looking for a fair treatment of Cobb)






TED Z
.

[glchen]

Ruth

[Bosox Blair]

Probably didn't seem like a big deal to pinch hit for the Babe in 1914...here's a couple Duffy items:

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by glchen

Ruth

Great card, Gary.

By the way, if any of you can suffer through the Ken Costner movie, "For Love of the Game", there is a short trivia test on Perfect Games and if you get all the answers correct, a vintage Babe Ruth short talkie follows...worth the price of the DVD!!

[teetwoohsix]

Originally Posted by LincolnVT

Here is my contribution to the thread.

Ethan

I am late to the thread, but you all have posted some wonderful Ruth items. Ethan, that PC is awesome!

Sincerely, Clayton

[the 'stache]

I'm sitting down now to watch The Pride of the Yankees now for the first time ever. The Babe had a starring role in the film. Gary Cooper is very convincing as the Iron Horse, isn't he?

[LincolnVT]

Originally Posted by teetwoohsix

I am late to the thread, but you all have posted some wonderful Ruth items. Ethan, that PC is awesome!

Sincerely, Clayton

Thank you Clayton. One of 6 on the SGC / PSA charts I believe.

[robw]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Trivia question: Only two pitchers in history have pitched for at least ten years without ever having a losing season. On a technicality, the Babe is the first one, who is the second?

Sabathia never had a losing record until this year....maybe he can come back to be #3!!

[Forever Young]

I have posted these photos from my collection before but I figured if a double post was ever justified, this would be it.

Post by Weingarten's Vintage.

[LincolnVT]

Beautiful stuff Ben. I should also add early Babe Ruth type 1 photos to the "what is hot" string listed on the home page.

[e107collector]

Ben,

That top picture you have of Babe Ruth pitching is unreal!! Never saw that pose before.

Thanks for sharing

Tony

[tedzan]

Babe Ruth hit a drive that bounced off the old scoreboard in Right-Centerfield (added in this photo). Had the ball cleared this scoreboard,
it was projected that it would have traveled 600+ feet.
And, it would have been the only FAIR ball ever hit out of Yankee Stadium. Subsequently, this old scoreboard was replaced with the new
gigantic one behind the bleacher seats.


....................................... .................................................. ........... ..................... Ruth




TED Z
.

[LincolnVT]

Agreed Tony....it puts the m 101 to shame. Early and rare Ruth is where it is at!!!

[MattyC]

Transparent.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by e107collector

Ben,

That top picture you have of Babe Ruth pitching is unreal!! Never saw that pose before.

Thanks for sharing

Tony

Thank you Tony. It is certainly one of my most prized possessions.

Any yes... early Ruth AND early Gehrig is where it's at... at least for me Ethan.