Storytelling: Babe's final homer cleared the roof here 76 years ago today
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Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave (March 10, 1935).
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Although just a teenager in 1935, I was already an avid sports fan.
There was big-time baseball and football in Pittsburgh, and it was a special day for me on May 25 of that year when my dad took me and two classmates to see Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat, play the Pirates at Forbes Field. The former Yankee great was now ending his career playing for the Boston Braves of the National League. And we were going to see him.
Part of the fun for the day was getting to Forbes Field and the game. Most of our fathers during those difficult economic times didn't have cars, so it was the street cars for us, from the South Hills to Oakland.
After a packed, standing-room-only ride, we arrived with numerous other fans at Forbes and Atwood. Then a short walk down the street to the ballpark, stopping first for a hot dog and bags of peanuts. We were ready for an afternoon of major league baseball, unaware of what highlights the day would bring.
Then as now, a home run rates as the top hitting achievement in baseball. And at that time Babe Ruth was unquestionably the greatest slugger of them all.
With considerable awe, fans spoke of his tremendous record of 60 homers in a season and, at that time, his 711 career home runs. And remember, Ruth did this with a less lively ball.
During his 22-year career, the Babe provided more drama than anyone in the history of the national pastime. But at 40 years of age and having been shunned by his beloved Yankees, he was nearing the end of a trail that had brought him blazing glory. Ten thousand fans, including me and my buddies, were on hand that special day to see the ending of a memorable career. It was a cold day for May, but Babe kept us on our feet and entertained for most of the game with his heroics.
Coming to bat in the top half of the seventh, Ruth had already turned in a fair day's work, blasting two home runs and a single against Pirate pitching. I had been excited when his first homer landed in the lower deck of the right field stands, a good 350 feet away. The first, however, was overshadowed by the second, which Babe drove high and far into the second tier of the same seats.
First Published May 25, 2011 5:58 am
