BABE RUTH

THE LAST ONE FOR 86 YEARS
It's the Babe again !!!

July 10, 1918 ...  At Fenway Park, the best moment was Babe Ruth crowning the baseball on the nose, and driving it recklessly to left center for a triple. It was a first rate hit, and as they say a classic. The smash was enough to win the ballgame. The Babe put everything he had into the picture, so it is no wonder that his work satisfied everybody at the ballpark.

The Red Sox defeated the Indians 2-0, with the game being called off after five innings, owing to the condition of the grounds from a heavy downpour. It would have been impossible to keep playing and umpire George Hildebrand did the proper thing in calling it off.

Those who follow the Red Sox closely know how Babe generally saves the big thrill until the end of the program. Today he must have had a hunch. The lowering clouds and the moisture in the air must have given him some premonition that the sky was about to open and that it was time put the ball club on his back. In the fourth inning, after Amos Strunk had singled, Joe Wood shifted himself to a spot in close proximity to the right field bleachers and Tris Speaker pulled away over to the furthest right section of centerfield.

Babe crossed the boys up by busting one to the bank in left center, sending Strunk home and pulling up himself at third base, scoring when George Whiteman hit a quick one by Doc Johnston.

The hits from Babe and Whiteman came not to soon. About five minutes later the rain came down in torrents, but five full innings had been played and so the Sox had the decision safely tucked away.

King Bader started for the Red Sox and came up with some luck in the first inning. There were men on second and third, with no one out and up was Tris Speaker. Yet the Indians did not score, because a high class defense extricated Bader, the former and naval reservist, from a tough jam. Jack Grainy had opened the game with a single to right, which would've been a triple except for a fine stop by Harry Hooper. Ray Chapman then busted a single to center, going to second as Strunk was trying to get Grainy at third. Speaker hit a scorcher that Jack Stansbury made a great stop of and recovered the ball. Grainy had broken for home and was run down, Stansbury to catcher Sam Agnew, back to Scott. Chapman and Speaker meanwhile, advanced to third and second base. Then Stansbury went over to the stands for Joe Wood's pop foul fly and Wamby then hit an easy fly ball to Whiteman, ending the threat.

In the third, fourth, and fifth inning. The visitors hit safely, but in each instance, a fast double-play was turned by the Sox, two of them started by Stansbury. Although it was a short game, the fans were thoroughly satisfied, as the Sox showed them a lot of championship baseball.

The Sox came into the series, having lost first place to the Cleveland Indians. They were in second place, a half game out. Now that the dust has settled, they have a 2 1/2 game lead and are back in first place.