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BABE RUTH |
THE LAST ONE FOR 86 YEARS
The Red Sox start off with a 7 to 1 victory
April 15, 1918 ...
Before 10,000 fans, a rattling good Monday crowd and the best opening day at Fenway Park since 1915, the Red Sox triumphed over the Philadelphia Athletics 7 to 1. Babe Ruth did the pitching and drove in two of the runs.
Governor McCall and Mayor Peters, with numerous other state dignitaries were on hand, along with various members of the military, as well as veteran baseball men. And then of course there were the Royal Rooters and their band. The weather was
perfect but the grounds were soggy. At the start, the musicians headed out to the centerfield flag pole where Captain Dick Hoblitzell sent Old Glory up to meet the breeze, as the band struck up the "Star Spangled Banner". Mayor Peters through out the first ball and it was
returned by umpire Tommy Connolly.
Larry Gardner and Tillie Walker were welcomed back, with Tillie getting a pair of hits. Babe Ruth had only one bad inning. In the second, a hit and a pair of passes gave the A's their only tally. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the
inning when Everett Scott laced a single to center and George Whiteman scored when Joe Dugan booted Sam Agnew's grounder. The Babe then pasted a single to right, scoring Scotty. After that it was all Red Sox.
Chick Shorten and several of the boys stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard were at the game. |
