Babe Ruth's no hitter

drprestwood · 06-12-2003, 02:20 PM

With all of the talk about no-hitters by multiple pitchers, I thought I'd share this story with those who don't know it. It's the best.

From baseballlibrary.com

It seemed as if Ernie Shore and Babe Ruth were destined to share something. Though never the best of friends, the two of them were sent from Baltimore to the Boston Red Sox along with catcher Ben Egan in a 1914 deal. When they arrived in Boston, Shore was the one who jumped right to the majors. The more heralded Ruth was sent back down for another year in the minors.

While Ruth had more potential, Shore was the one producing. He won the opening game of the World Series in 1915 against star hurler Grover Cleveland Alexander. Meanwhile Ruth appeared just once in that entire series, and it was as a pinch-hitter.

The pair had roomed together during the spring of 1915 and that was where the tension started to show. Shore requested that he be paired with someone other than Ruth, citing the Babe's sanitary habits, or lack thereof. To wit: Ruth would often use Shore's toothbrush instead of his own, and it was rumored that Ruth had a bad habit of not flushing the toilet. Either way, Shore wanted out and that's what he got.

Ruth and Shore were both dominant pitchers during their careers, but the similarities ended there. While Ruth had come straight from reform school to the pros, Shore had taken postgraduate courses the winter before his first season with the Red Sox. He had even taught at a local Boston school. While they were both great players on the field, they had little in common off it.

But on a summer day at Fenway Park in 1917, the two were forever etched together in history.

Babe Ruth took the mound on June 23 against the Washington Senators. He was coming off a complete-game victory three days earlier, one in which he hadn't walked a single batter. But despite Babe's confidence his first pitch to leadoff man Ray Morgan was called a ball. The second pitch -- ball two. The third pitch -- ball three. Fuming at umpire Brick Owens, Ruth tossed his fourth pitch of the night.

Ball four.

Ruth rushed at Owens, screaming, "Keep your eyes open!" Owens threatened that he'd eject Ruth if he continued his tirade, and Ruth responded that if he got kicked out of the game he would punch Owens on the way out. Sure enough, Owens tossed Ruth and sure enough, the Sultan of Swat delivered a right-handed blow that nailed Owens on the side of the head.

With twenty-seven outs left to go and Boston's best player out of the game, the Sox turned to Ernie Shore, who was coming off two days of rest. As soon as Shore took the mound Morgan took off for second. He was gunned down by the Red Sox catcher, and Shore retired the next two batters to end the inning.

The short layoff clearly hadn't affected Shore, who retired the Senators three up, three down in the second and then again in the third. Incredibly, Shore proceeded to reel off six more perfect innings, becoming the only reliever in major league history to ever pitch a perfect game.

Modern Relic · 06-12-2003, 03:25 PM

Great story! I read about this when I was a kid and never forgot about it.

CMH · 06-12-2003, 04:37 PM

didn't know this.

interesting read.

AnotherAlias · 06-12-2003, 04:44 PM

This is a great story. Thanks drp.

Do it again sometime.

AccardoOutfit29 · 06-12-2003, 04:46 PM

LOL, that is quite the story. Seriously.

BleedingCubbyBlue · 06-12-2003, 05:15 PM

Imagine what would happen today if a pitcher punched out an umpire...

AnotherAlias · 06-12-2003, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BleedingCubbyBlue
Imagine what would happen today if a pitcher punched out an umpire...

Or, spit in an ump's face?

woody5254 · 06-12-2003, 06:58 PM

Great story. I hadn't seen that one before. Thanks for digging it up.

06-12-2003, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAlias
Or, spit in an ump's face?

darkhorse · 06-13-2003, 10:30 AM

Saw the headline of this thread and did a double take.

drprestwood · 06-13-2003, 10:40 AM

Yeah, I think it's funny that Ruth gets partial credit for the no-hitter and that it wasn't technically a perfect game.

06-12-2003, 02:20 PM	#1
drprestwood All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,501	Babe Ruth's no hitter With all of the talk about no-hitters by multiple pitchers, I thought I'd share this story with those who don't know it. It's the best. From baseballlibrary.com It seemed as if Ernie Shore and Babe Ruth were destined to share something. Though never the best of friends, the two of them were sent from Baltimore to the Boston Red Sox along with catcher Ben Egan in a 1914 deal. When they arrived in Boston, Shore was the one who jumped right to the majors. The more heralded Ruth was sent back down for another year in the minors. While Ruth had more potential, Shore was the one producing. He won the opening game of the World Series in 1915 against star hurler Grover Cleveland Alexander. Meanwhile Ruth appeared just once in that entire series, and it was as a pinch-hitter. The pair had roomed together during the spring of 1915 and that was where the tension started to show. Shore requested that he be paired with someone other than Ruth, citing the Babe's sanitary habits, or lack thereof. To wit: Ruth would often use Shore's toothbrush instead of his own, and it was rumored that Ruth had a bad habit of not flushing the toilet. Either way, Shore wanted out and that's what he got. Ruth and Shore were both dominant pitchers during their careers, but the similarities ended there. While Ruth had come straight from reform school to the pros, Shore had taken postgraduate courses the winter before his first season with the Red Sox. He had even taught at a local Boston school. While they were both great players on the field, they had little in common off it. But on a summer day at Fenway Park in 1917, the two were forever etched together in history. Babe Ruth took the mound on June 23 against the Washington Senators. He was coming off a complete-game victory three days earlier, one in which he hadn't walked a single batter. But despite Babe's confidence his first pitch to leadoff man Ray Morgan was called a ball. The second pitch -- ball two. The third pitch -- ball three. Fuming at umpire Brick Owens, Ruth tossed his fourth pitch of the night. Ball four. Ruth rushed at Owens, screaming, "Keep your eyes open!" Owens threatened that he'd eject Ruth if he continued his tirade, and Ruth responded that if he got kicked out of the game he would punch Owens on the way out. Sure enough, Owens tossed Ruth and sure enough, the Sultan of Swat delivered a right-handed blow that nailed Owens on the side of the head. With twenty-seven outs left to go and Boston's best player out of the game, the Sox turned to Ernie Shore, who was coming off two days of rest. As soon as Shore took the mound Morgan took off for second. He was gunned down by the Red Sox catcher, and Shore retired the next two batters to end the inning. The short layoff clearly hadn't affected Shore, who retired the Senators three up, three down in the second and then again in the third. Incredibly, Shore proceeded to reel off six more perfect innings, becoming the only reliever in major league history to ever pitch a perfect game.

06-12-2003, 03:25 PM	#2
Modern Relic All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,266	Great story! I read about this when I was a kid and never forgot about it. __________________ American Folklore Baseball League (closed): Commissioner/GM - Mudville Nine (ruled!) Former member of Boys of Summer: GM - St. Louis Browns (doormats!) Former member of the OTBL: GM - Gashouse Gorillas (also ruled!) "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby

06-12-2003, 06:58 PM	#8
woody5254 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hector, NY Posts: 6,130	Great story. I hadn't seen that one before. Thanks for digging it up. __________________ Check out: You Pick Tourney Version 2.0 Standings Thread You Pick The Teams Tourney: Main Thread The Colossal 20th Century Tourney:Main Thread Chicago White Sox(Original Owner:2001-) Baseball Maelstrom -2001,2011,2013 World Series Champions -2002,2010 Maelstrom Tourney Champs Arizona Diamondbacks(2003-) NAHHBL Indianapolis Racers(Expansion Team:1993-)ABC

06-13-2003, 10:30 AM	#10
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Saw the headline of this thread and did a double take. __________________ "The Human Torch was denied a bank loan."

06-12-2003, 04:37 PM	#3
CMH Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,057	didn't know this. interesting read.

06-12-2003, 04:44 PM	#4
AnotherAlias Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I'm back...for now Posts: 4,190	This is a great story. Thanks drp. Do it again sometime.

06-12-2003, 04:46 PM	#5
AccardoOutfit29 All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 531	LOL, that is quite the story. Seriously.

06-12-2003, 05:15 PM	#6
BleedingCubbyBlue All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 601	Imagine what would happen today if a pitcher punched out an umpire...

06-13-2003, 10:40 AM	#11
drprestwood All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,501	Yeah, I think it's funny that Ruth gets partial credit for the no-hitter and that it wasn't technically a perfect game.