October 5, 2005

Babe Hit Only Minor League HR In Toronto

From the Toronto Sun:
A local author wants to ensure a legendary piece of Toronto's baseball history is never forgotten.

Jerry Amernic has been campaigning for months to erect a heritage site at Hanlan's Point on Toronto Island where Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in 1914.

While a small historical plaque marks the site near the island airport, Amernic wants to erect three large historical signs in a landscaped area. "We pave over our history in this city and in this country. I thought we could do more to honour that home run" ...
Ruth, then 19 years old and playing for the Providence Grays, hit the home run on September 5, 1914. He also pitched a one-hit shutout that day, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-0.

In his four starts before getting hit in the head, Matt Clement threw 25 innings, gave up 28 hits, 10 walks and 22 earned runs for an ERA of 7.92. As SoSHer soxfaninyankeeland writes: "The Tampa Bay game is a convenient demarcation point, but he pitched poorly before it happened, and pitched well for a short time after it happened."

In Alan Schwarz's article -- "Why Do Managers Use Some Relievers for One Batter? Because It Works" -- he notes that Mike Myers has made 257 one-batter appearances, the most in major league history.

The Yankees won the East and New York Times writer Murray Chass is rubbing it in his readers' faces. What a sad, bitter man. ... Peter Gammons is confused: On Monday's "Dan Patrick Show", he picked Boston over Chicago. But on ESPN.com, he picked the White Sox in five games.

No comments: