BABE RUTH

THE LAST ONE FOR 86 YEARS
Babe Ruth bats the Sox back into first place

July 6, 1918 ...  Our own Mr. Babe Ruth, widely known buxom and smashing matinee idol, crashed into the Cleveland Indians today. The most desirable setting was provided for the temperamental star. The Sox were two behind in the sixth inning, with two on and none out, when he came up to pinch-hit for Walter Barbare.  Babe hit a mighty smash to the right-field corner and when he stopped running, the score was 5 to 4 in favor of the Sox.

The victory put the Red Sox back at the top of the American League, and even Babe will admit that manager Ed Barrow showed excellent judgment, when he sent him up to hit for Walter Barbare. The ovation the Babe received, when he strutted to the plate equaled, if not surpassed, ovations for Speaker, Cobb and many other headliners who appear at Fenway Park.

Two games were slated to be played, but the weather conditions, in the early part of the afternoon, interfered with the program. In fact, it appeared as if the entire show would have to be called off. The rain ceased around 1:30 and 15 minutes later the sun came out. In spite of the bad weather, over 5000 people attended the game. This is ample proof of the public's desire to see professional baseball.

Barrow sent Joe Bush to pitch the game. He was was opposed by Fritz Coumbe, the little southpaw. Coumbe lasted five innings then Jim Bagby joined the festivities, arriving just in time to be a part of Babe's big act.

Joe Bush was slammed hard in the first three innings, with the Indians getting all their runs, and seven in their hits, before the third inning had finished. In the last six rounds, Joe Bush held Cleveland to just two hits and looked mighty swell.

The fans had their first close-up of rookies Walter Barbare and Jack Stansbury, two of the players the Red Sox obtained from New Orleans. Both played at third base.  Barbare put himself in good with the fans by whacking out a two bagger, while Stansbury won favor by pulling a pop fly ball out of the Indians dugout for an out.

Former Sox players Tris Speaker, Joe Wood and Chet Thomas all received a cordial welcome from the fans in their return to Fenway Park. Joe got two hits, one a double and Spoke hit safely once.

After two were out in the first, Cleveland scored when Speaker singled and Roth doubled. In the second they scored two. Joe Wood singled was forced at second by Joe Evans, who then stole second and scored on Steve O'Neill's hit to left.  O'Neill took second on the throw home, and scored when Fritz Coumbe cracked one to center field. That gave Cleveland a 3-0 lead.

In the Red Sox half of the second inning, they got one back when Stuffy McInnis and George Whiteman singled. Stuffy took third and Whitey scored when Everett Scott it into a double play.

In the third Cleveland grabbed a run on Joe Wood's double and Joe Evans single after two were out.

In the bottom half of the third, the Sox got another run. Joe Bush reached after Wamby fumbled, only to be forced by Harry Hooper. Dave Shean singled to right and Roth's throw to snare Hooper at third, went into the stands.  After three innings, the score was 4 to 2 in favor of the Indians after three innings.

In the sixth, the Red Sox took the lead for good.  Whiteman slammed a double to the left field corner to open the inning, and romped to third when Everett Scott singled to right. Then Babe followed by lining one to right, which got by Braggo Roth. The Babe pulled up at third and scored when Bill Wambsganss' relay throw went past Joe Evans.  The Sox scored three runs and won the game 5 to 4.

Down in Maryland, old friend Dutch Leonard was hammered by Sparrow's Point.  They clouted his delivery to all parts of the ballpark for six runs and beat the boys from the Fore River Shipyard, 9 to 3.