Babe Ruth: Legends in Sports by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

Columbia University, he called him “another Ruth.” Now in his third
     season in the major leagues, Gehrig was about to serve notice that the scouting report was accurate. Gehrig hit fourth in
     the Yankees lineup right behind Ruth. Together, the two Yankees stars formed the greatest slugging duo in the history of baseball.
     Sportswriters dubbed the Yankee lineup “Murderers’ Row.”
    From the start of the season, Ruth and Gehrig sent shivers down the backs of American League pitchers. It seemed as if one
     of them hit one or two home runs every day. The Yankees scored runs in bunches. One opposing pitcher admitted, “I would rather
     pitch a doubleheader against any other club than a single game against the Yankees.”
    Ruth, in particular, seemed invigorated. Every home run hit by Gehrig seemed to spur Ruth on. After all, he had won the major
     league home run crown in six of the past eight seasons. He didn’t want to lose his title to his own teammate.
    By mid-season the Yankees were far ahead in the pennant race. The big question became who would lead the league in home runs
     — Ruth or Gehrig — and whether either man would break Ruth’s existing record of fifty-nine home runs.
    Entering September, Ruth led Gehrig by two home runs, 43 to 41. Then, on September 6 in Boston, with both men stuck on 44
     homers, Ruth pulled ahead. As the Yankees split a doubleheader, Ruth cracked three home runs, including one observers believed
     was the longest ever hit at Fenway Park. Then the next day he hit two more, putting him only ten home runs behind the record.
    Over the final weeks of the season, fans all over the country kept track of Ruth’s home runs. And Ruth, knowing everyone was
     watching, responded with a remarkable performance.
    On September 22 his 56th home run in the ninth inning led the Yankees to their 105th win of the season, tying a mark set by
     the 1912 Boston Red Sox. As he toured the bases with the game-winning hit, dozens of fans poured onto the field and ran with
     him around the bases. Some of them tried to takehis bat, but Ruth held it high over his head, laughing and dashing between his fans on his way to the plate. The record seemed
     within his grasp.
    But over the next week, Ruth hit only one more homer. With only three games left in the season, the record seemed out of reach.
     It would take what sportswriters called a “Ruthian” performance to hit sixty home runs. Of course, no one was more “Ruthian”
     than Babe Ruth himself.
    On September 29, Ruth broke loose and cracked two home runs to tie the record. After hitting number fifty-nine he shook Lou
     Gehrig’s hand at home plate and then tipped his hat to the crowd. Even Gehrig, who had stalled at “only” forty-seven home
     runs, stood in awe of Ruth.
    Ruth had two more games to try for number sixty.
    The next day, the Yankees and Washington Senators were tied 2–2 in the eighth inning. Although Ruth collected two hits and
     scored both Yankees runs, he had yet to belt out home run number sixty.
    With one out, Yankee Mark Koenig tripled. Then Ruth stepped to the plate. He took one ball and one strike. Then Tom Zachary
     threw another pitch.
    The ball was low and inside. With the form he had made classic, Ruth swung down on the pitch and then drove it like a golf
     ball. The drive sailed to right field, curving toward the line. The umpire tracked the ball to make the call as Ruth started
     a slow dance toward first.
    As the ball rattled into the seats, the umpire signaled fair. Then he twirled his arm above his head, the signal that the
     hit was a home run.
    Yankee Stadium exploded with cheers. Ruth ran around the bases slowly and deliberately, making sure he touched each base.
     The hit gave the Yankees a 4–2 lead. They hung on through the last inning to win the game.
    Ruth was mobbed by reporters in the clubhouse. He had a huge grin on his face. Only two years before, many had thought his
     career was over. Now he had done