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KF5JRV > TODAY 11.07.20 12:04l 49 Lines 2262 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Today in History - Jul 11
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Sent: 200711/1059Z 53622@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.20
On July 11, 1914, in his major league debut, George
Herman “Babe” Ruth pitches seven strong innings to
lead the Boston Red Sox over the Cleveland Indians,
4-3.
George Herman Ruth was born February 6, 1895, in
Baltimore, Maryland, where his father worked as a
saloon keeper on the waterfront. He was the first
of eight children, but only he and a sister survived
infancy. The young George, known as “Gig”
(pronounced jij) to his family, was a magnet for
trouble from an early age. At seven, his truancy
from school led his parents to declare him
incorrigible, and he was sent to an orphanage,
St. Marys Industrial School for Boys. Ruth lived
there until he was 19 in 1914, when he was signed
as a pitcher by the Baltimore Orioles.
That same summer, Ruth was sold to the Boston Red
Sox. His teammates called him “Babe” for his
naiveté, but his talent was already maturing. In
his debut game against the Indians, the 19-year-old
Ruth gave up just five hits over the first six
innings. In the seventh, the Indians managed two
runs on three singles and a sacrifice and Ruth was
relieved. His hitting prowess, however, was not on
display that first nighthe went 0 for 2 at the plate.
Ruth developed quickly as a pitcher and as a hitter.
When the Red Sox made the World Series in 1916 and 1918,
Ruth starred, setting a record with 29 2/3 consecutive
scoreless innings in World Series play. His career
record as a pitcher for the Red Sox was 89-46.
To the great dismay of Boston fans, Ruths contract was
sold to the New York Yankees before the 1920 season by
Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, so that Frazee could finance
the musical No, No, Nanette. Ruth switched to the
outfield with the Yankees, and hit more home runs than
the entire Red Sox team in 10 of the next 12 seasons.
“The Sultan of Swat” or “The Bambino,” as he was alternately
known, was the greatest gate attraction in baseball until
his retirement as a player in 1935. During his career with
the New York Yankees, the team won four World Series and
seven American League pennants. After getting rid of Ruth,
the Red Sox did not win a World Series until 2004, an 85-year
drought known to Red Sox fans as “the Curse of the Bambino.”
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