On October 6, 1926, New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth made baseball history when he became the first player to hit three home runs in a single World Series game. Ruth accomplished the remarkable feat against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the World Series, helping power the Yankees to a 10-5 victory and adding yet another extraordinary achievement to his already legendary career.
The 1926 World Series featured two talented clubs. The Yankees' lineup included Ruth, a young Lou Gehrig, and leadoff hitter Earle Combs. The Cardinals, meanwhile, were led by player-manager Rogers Hornsby and featured a strong pitching staff that included Flint Rhem, Bill Sherdel, Jesse Haines and veteran Grover Cleveland Alexander.
The Yankees won Game 1, but St. Louis quickly responded. Alexander pitched a complete game to lead the Cardinals to victory in Game 2, and Haines followed with a shutout in Game 3. Heading into Game 4 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, the Cardinals held a two-games-to-one advantage in the series. New York needed its biggest star to deliver—and Ruth did exactly that.
Ruth launched three home runs during the game, becoming the first player in World Series history to accomplish the feat. His performance helped the Yankees score 10 runs, while pitcher Waite Hoyt went the distance for New York. The victory tied the series at two games apiece and provided one of the defining moments of Ruth's career.
The Yankees went on to win Game 5 in 10 innings, but the Cardinals refused to surrender. St. Louis captured Game 6 and forced a decisive seventh game at Yankee Stadium.
Game 7 produced an ending nearly as memorable as Ruth's three-home-run performance. With the Yankees trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Ruth came to the plate and drew a walk. Representing the tying run, he attempted to steal second base but was thrown out by catcher Bob O'Farrell, ending the game and giving St. Louis the World Series championship.
Although the Yankees lost the series, Ruth's record-setting performance on October 6 became part of baseball lore. Two years later, during the 1928 World Series—again against the Cardinals—Ruth remarkably hit three home runs in another Game 4, tying his own record.
The achievement stood alone for more than half a century. In 1977, Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson became the second player to hit three home runs in a World Series game, famously accomplishing the feat on three consecutive pitches from three different Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers.
Nearly a century later, Ruth's performance remains one of the most celebrated moments in World Series history. On October 6, 1926, the "Sultan of Swat" once again demonstrated the tremendous power that helped transform both the Yankees and the game of baseball itself.
Comments