Yankee4Life

My first contribution to YouTube, the Babe hitting a long home run in the 1927 Season mod. The ballpark used here is Sean's League Park in Cleveland.

Updated to 1-17 ...Hard for me to imagine that the New Orleans Saints are going to the Championship game. ...In previous years when New Orleans fans wanted to see a decent football team they'd head out to the Superdome on Sundays to watch the other teams trounce their Saints. Now this year's team looks practically unstoppable. ...It is people like Gilbert Arenas that makes me not care at all about the National Basketball Association. I hope he gets exactly what is coming to him. ...Could it be? Was Oakland owner Al Davis right about Lane Kiffin? Sure seems so after the screwing Kiffin gave Tennessee this week after he bolted from there and took off to Southern California. ...And I'll say again. Tom Cable deserves to return. ...Am I the only Oakland Raider fan on this website? ...Will someone tell me how the hell Aroldis Chapman signed with the Reds, the major league leaders in running a cheap and half ass organization? ...Ironic that I just finished reading a book about Roberto Clemente (see this thread right here) that another earthquake hits Latin America. ...If there is one thing that anyone can take out of reading that book about Clemente was his immense pride for his homeland and the people there. He loved Puerto Rico as much as Puerto Rico loved him. ...I am going to have to be completely overwhelmed for me to go out and get 2K10 when it is released. First of all I don't like 2K sports. I think the way they do things is terrible and I honestly do not see them improving on 2k9 at all. But of course, I could be mistaken.

The plane went down into shark infested waters.

Charlie Keller The talent-laden Yankees kept the lefthanded slugger in Newark (International League) the season after he was the league batting champion and TSN Minor League Player of the Year for 1937. A place was made for him in 1939, and he hit .334 with the first of six Yankee pennant winners for which he would play. Through of his career, Keller was a feared slugger and a competent fielder. In his rookie season he hit .334 with 11 home runs and 83 RBI in 111 games. He topped his splendid major league debut by crushing three homers and batting .438 as the Yankees swept four games from the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. He was a five-time All-Star and reached highs of 33 HR and 122 RBI in 1941. He led the AL in walks with 106 in both 1940 and 1943. Keller 's career was interrupted for maritime service in WWII. He had chronic back problems which eventually relegated him to pinch hitting, and he led the league in that department (9-for-38) in 1951, his final full season. Keller coached for the Yankees before retiring to rural Maryland to run a horse farm. His brother Hal caught briefly for the Senators and spent over 20 years as a front-office man for the Senators, Rangers, and Mariners. His son, Charlie Jr., led the Eastern League in hitting with a .349 average before being sidelined by the same congenital back problem that had plagued his father. In a 13-season career, Keller was a .286 hitter with 189 home runs and 760 RBI in 1170 games. A five-time All-Star selection, he compiled a career .410 on base percentage and a .518 slugging average for a combined .928 OPS. In his four World Series appearances, he batted .306 with five home runs, and 18 RBI in 19 games. Following his retirement as a player, Keller founded Yankeeland Farm and had a successful career as a horse breeder – pacers and trotters – near his hometown of Middletown, Maryland. He named many of his horses after the franchises he played for: Fresh Yankee, Handsome Yankee, Yankee Slugger and Guy Yankee. He also benefited by owning syndicated shares of several stallions, which entitled him to free stud fees.

Hiram Bithorn On September 30, 1941, Bithorn was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and debuted in the Major Leagues on April 15, 1942, making history as the first Puerto Rican to play in the Major Leagues. Only 9-14 as a Cub rookie in 1942, the burly righthander blossomed to 18-12 the next year, fourth in the NL in wins. He led the league in shutouts (7) and posted a 2.60 ERA. He spent the next two seasons in military service, ballooning to 225. In 1946 he pitched mostly in relief with sporadic success. Sold to the Pirates, who released him in spring training, he pitched two innings for the White Sox in 1947 before a sore arm ended his ML career. In four seasons, Bithorn had a 34-31 record with 185 strikeouts, a 3.16 ERA, 30 complete games, eight shutouts, five saves, and 509 innings pitched in 105 games (53 as a starter). Bithorn tried a comeback a few years later in the Mexican winter league. But on December 30, 1951, at age 35, he was shot by a police officer in Mexico. He died later in a hospital. Initially, the officer claimed that Bithorn was violent and also claimed that Bithorn had said he was part of a "Communist cell," but eventually this argument was debunked and the officer was sent to prison for Bithorn's murder.

Next up in this thread is Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero by David Maraniss. This book can be found on Amazon right here. This was a perfect baseball book for me. I knew a little about the subject of the book but after I was finished with the book I knew so much more. I actually saw Clemente play on TV when I was a little kid. I have some memories of him as I look back at that time. Each time he walked up to home plate he would twist his neck around like he had a kink in it. I recall he had a great arm, which the announcers would say every time a ball was hit to right field. I recall he played for one of the top teams of the early 70's. And I recall the date of his tragic death in 1972 because the plane he was on was too heavy. So, that doesn't say much of what I knew about Clemente. For anyone who wants to know about Roberto Clemente, this book is for you. Notable tidbits: ...The Dodgers originally signed Clemente with the sole purpose of keeping him away from the New York Giants because they did not want to see a Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente outfield. ...Clemente was a bonus baby and he had to remain on the Dodger roster for one year for the Dodgers to keep him. That was the rules. If he got sent down to the Dodger minor league clubs during his first year the Dodgers would risk losing him to the Rule 5 draft. And that's exactly what happened. The Dodgers tried to hide Clemente in Montreal in 1954 but at the end of the season the last place Pittsburgh Pirates picked him up for a $4,000 posting fee. Just imagine for a minute if you will what kind of a team the pitching rich Dodger teams of the 1960's would have had if they had Clemente there. ...In 1955 the Pirates had two sets of brothers on their team, Gene and George Freese and John and Eddie O'Brien. The O'Brien's by the way were identical twins. ...The events leading up to his death were both unfortunate and also completely avoidable. On December 22, 1972 there was an earthquake in Nicaragua. Clemente, hearing of this, wanted to help out. He organized a relief effort in Puerto Rico. People donated food, clothing and medical supplies. The trouble is the planes that were delivering these things to the people in Nicargua were stopped by the Somoza dictatorship at the airport and all the supplies were taken. None of the donated food or clothing or medical supplies got to the people that needed it because Somoza's people took it first. Clemente, learning of this, was furious. This is the reason why he boarded the plane on New Year's Eve 1972. To make sure this did not happen again. ...Clemente asked two other major league players to join him on this trip to Nicaragua. Orlando Cepeda couldn't go because he was trying to get himself into shape to play somewhere in 1973. Manny Sanguillen was asked to go but he couldn't either. He was still playing winter ball and could not get away. ...The plane that Clemente left on that day was a bad one but he did not know it. It was a DC-7 and it had more than its share of problems. Besides the plane being overloaded by 4,000 pounds, the plane needed a new engine. Among other things. And since it was New Year's Eve, there were no Flight Standards inspectors around because no one was assigned to surveillance that weekend. That's why Clemente's flight was permitted to leave with these errors because no one was there to stop it. ...Clemente's body was never found.

A big thank you to bhutsell who posted this link in the shoutbox. Deadball Era Video. Grab this son of a gun before MLB whines and crys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wz8CC-kwtU&feature=player_embedded

Hurry up if you want to see this one Yankee fans before MLB finds out and gets rid of it.

I noticed the same thing Spungo. The first day you came back you came in this thread and asked something like if anyone had any questions about uniforms or Photoshop questions for you. I took off for a few hours and came back and I saw the post was gone and I didn't understand it. Let me know if there are any further questions about this. Whatever it was it has to be a mistake and I'll find out what the heck happened here. Trues himself was curious about this too. Correction. It is a big deal. I don't want you to think that anything is starting all over again. You're welcome here and I want to go more than halfway to make you feel like it. You said nothing wrong in that post of yours. I mean you were just re-introducing yourself in here and I don't get what happened.

Next up is a book called A Legend in the Making: The New York Yankees in 1939 by Richard J. Tofel. This book can be found at Amazon right here. Yes, this is another book about a specific year in the history of the Yankees but it tells so much more. Just check out this statistic listing the league titles and world titles at the beginning of the 1936 season: TEAM.............LEAGUE TITLES............WORLD SERIES TITLES Philadelphia Athletics...........8..............5 Boston Red Sox...................5..............5 New York Giants..................10.............4 New York Yankees.................7..............4 St. Louis Cardinals..............5..............3 Chicago Cubs.....................8..............2 As you see, the World Series titles at that time were very very close. But look at the same standings at the end of the 1939 Season: TEAM.............LEAGUE TITLES.............WORLD SERIES TITLES New York Giants.........12.....................4 New York Yankees........11.....................8 Philadelphia Athletics...8.....................5 Boston Red Sox...........5.....................5 St. Louis Cardinals......5.....................3 Chicago Cubs.............9.....................2 This book details the time period when the Yankees first made their move into becoming the dynasty that they are known for this very day. This book was full of interesting facts, among them were: ...When Jacob Ruppert first bought the Yankees in 1914 he wanted to rename the team the Knickerbockers after his beer but was dissuaded by local newspaper editors. ...Obviously this book covers the final playing days of Lou Gehrig. There was an interesting observation made by Joe Dimaggio about Gehrig during spring training in 1939. He saw Gehrig swing and miss at 19 pitches in a row -all fastballs. He saw his timing was off but at that time no one knew what was wrong. ...This book also touched on what was going on in 1939. There was a college fad going on at that time where the students would swallow live goldfish. The record for swallowing goldfish in one sitting was 89. I'm getting sick right now thinking of this. ...The Yankees had a pitcher named Wes Ferrell. He was a hot headed guy. One time he got so mad in the dugout he started beating himself up and his teammates had to pry him off of himself. ...Gehrig's number was the first number retired by the Yankees by the way. Not Ruth. In fact, George Selkirk, who replaced Ruth in right field in 1935, was also given Ruth's number 3. He was still wearing it in 1939. ...In 1939 the Yankees played 25 double headers. ...By 1938, the three New York teams were the only teams that did not have their games on the radio. Larry McPhail changed all that by airing Dodger games in 1938. ...In fact, a man named Arch McDonald was the first broadcaster for the Yankees. He broadcast both Yankee and Giant games in 1939 because both teams never played home games on the same day. This guy must have been busy. ...Radio did make the owners wary. They thought it would keep fans away. That's why in 1940 the Senators discontinued radio broadcasts of their home games. ...The first two games of the 1939 World Series took a total of three hours to complete. BOTH games. Game one took 93 minutes to play and game two took 87 minutes to play. Try that with FOX these days.

Updated to 1-10 ...8 degrees outside right now. I'm mentioning this because I'm going to have to go out in this today. My wife's birthday was yesterday so we are going out to dinner. I wonder if she realizes how cold it is? ...She spent the afternoon yesterday watching some of her favorite movies. Hairspray and Rent. Both were Musicals. Both sucked. Never watch them. I ran upstairs after the first five minutes of the first movie because I couldn't take it. ...I'm no Cowboy fan but all the same, thanks for knocking off the Eagles in the playoff round last night. ...Today, I am a Ravens fan for at least a few hours. ...Enjoy your retirement Randy Johnson. I just wish you would have done something in your Yankee years for us to look back on and smile at. ...One thing we were talking about in the shoutbox this week that still bares mentioning. If Andre Dawson got in the Hall of Fame with his stats, why didn't Dwight Evans? Look at their stats side by side and you'll see what I mean. ...Well, the Raiders had another lousy season. Who are they going to blame this time? ...I still wouldn't mind if Johnny Damon came back. Maybe he realizes now that Bora$ has overpriced him. ...I also would like one more pitcher. Wang can not be counted out here either. ...Think warm thoughts. Spring training is one month and eight days away. That's when the pitchers and catchers report.

Whitey Ford They called Ford "The Chairman of the Board" for good reason. He was for more than a decade the star pitcher of a team that operated with corporate efficiency, and his intelligence and confidence were on display whenever he was on the mound. In contrast to pitchers who dominated hitters with overpowering physical abilities, the 5'10" 180-lb lefthander controlled games with his mastery of the mental aspects of pitching and pinpoint control. Batters had to deal with his assortment of pitches: He mixed splendid changeups, marvelous curves, and a good fastball. He had one of the league's best pickoff moves, and he was an excellent fielder. And, like most successful businessmen, he was at his best when the pressure was greatest. His most eye-catching statistics are his consistently low ERAs and his high winning percentage. In 11 of 16 seasons he was under a 3.00 ERA, and his worst was 3.24. His .690 winning percentage ranks third all-time and first among modern pitchers with 200 or more wins. Of course, he benefited from strong Yankee bat support, defense, and relief pitching, but his winning percentage was usually higher than the team's. He allowed an average of only 10.94 baserunners per nine innings and posted 45 career shutouts, including eight 1-0 victories. After joining the Yankees in mid-season 1950, he won nine straight before a home run by Philadelphia's Sam Chapman gave him his only loss. In the WS, he pitched 8-2/3 innings without allowing an earned run to win the fourth game of a Yankee sweep. He spent 1951 and 1952 in the service, but returned to post 18-6 and 16-8 marks in 1953 and 1954. His 18-7 record in 1955 tied him for most AL wins. He led in complete games (18) and was second in ERA (2.63). TSN named him to its annual ML all-star team. In the final month of the season, he pitched consecutive one-hitters. The following year he was even better, going 19-6, to lead the AL in winning percentage and ERA (2.47). Again he was named to the TSN all-star team. He won his second ERA crown in 1958 (2.01). Through 1960, Yankee manager Casey Stengel limited Ford's starts, often resting him at least four days between appearances, and aiming him for more frequent use against better teams. In 1961 new manager Ralph Houk put him in a regular four-man rotation, and Ford led the AL in starts (39) and innings pitched (283) and earned the Cy Young Award with a 25-4 record, leading the ML in wins and percentage. Two years later, he again led in wins, percentage, starts, and innings pitched, with a 24-7 mark. At the time there was only a single Cy Young award for both leagues. Sandy Koufax won for 1963, but Ford was voted the top AL pitcher by TSN. They opposed each other in both the first and fourth games of the '63 WS, with Koufax winning both times. In Game Four Ford lost a two-hitter on an unearned run. The Yankees won 11 pennants in Ford's years with them. He ranks first all-time in WS wins (10), losses (8, games and games started (22), innings pitched, hits, bases on balls, and strikeouts. In the 1960, '61, and '62 Series, he pitched 33 consecutive scorelesss innings, breaking Babe Ruth's WS record of 29-2/3. A fun-loving native New Yorker, Whitey formed a curious odd couple with Oklahoman Mickey Mantle. The two were a familiar duo in the Big Apple's nightclubs. They were inducted into the Hall of Fame together in 1974.

Stan Musial Few players in the history of baseball have matched the accomplishments and consistency of Stan Musial. Even fewer so engendered the admiration and affection of fans, not only at home but in every ballpark on the circuit, as did this Polish-American from a steel-mill town in Pennsylvania. Signed as a pitcher when he was seventeen, Musial was 15-8 in two seasons with Williamson, West Virginia, but the scouting report filed on the young southpaw recommended his release because he was wild and inconsistent. Despite the report, he was sent to Daytona Beach as a pitcher for the 1940 season and, under the tutelage of former White Sox great Dickie Kerr, he compiled an 18-5 record. Kerr, who often had as few as 15 players on his roster, also played Musial in the outfield. Stan responded by batting .352. Late in the season, he made a diving catch in the outfield, crashing on his left shoulder, and the consequent injury finished him as a pitcher. Musial was convinced by Kerr to remain in baseball as an outfielder. The next year he ripped through Class C and the International League before hitting .426 in a September call-up with the Cardinals. That was the beginning of a love affair with St. Louis that would keep Musial a Cardinal for 22 seasons, a team record. After his playing days he served as general manager, and senior vice president of the Cardinals for more than 25 years. The lefthanded-hitting Musial had good speed and was famous for his compressed, closed batting crouch, from which he appeared to be peering at the pitcher around a corner. He won his first NL batting title in his second full year and led the NL in hits six times, doubles eight times, triples five times, runs five times, while winning five more batting titles. Preacher Roe claimed to have the best way to pitch Musial: "I throw him four wide ones and then I try to pick him off first base." Although not initially expected to be a long-ball hitter, Musial developed his power without increasing strikeouts, and averaged 31 home runs per season from 1948 to 1957. Musial once told Roger Kahn that he hit so well because he always knew what the pitch was by seeing the rotation of the ball as it approached the plate. When he retired, Musial owned or shared 29 NL records, 17 ML records, 9 All-Star records, including most home runs (6), and almost every Cardinals career offensive record. In 1956 TSN named Musial its first Player of the Decade. For one who played so long, Musial was unbelievably consistent. He smacked 1,815 hits at home and the same number on the road. He scored 1,949 runs and drove in 1,951. He batted .310 or better 16 straight seasons and added a .330 season just short of his 42nd birthday. Over 21 full seasons he averaged a remarkable 172 hits, 92 runs scored, 92 RBI, 34 doubles, and 23 home runs per year. His best offensive season was 1948, when he hit a career-high .376 and missed the NL Triple Crown by a single homer. That year he led the NL in batting average, slugging, hits, doubles, triples, runs, and RBI. On May 2, 1954, he set a ML record with five home runs in a doubleheader. And on July 12, 1955 his 12th-inning home run won the All-Star Game for the NL. Brooklyn fans labeled him "Stan the Man" for the havoc he wreaked on Dodger pitching every time he came to Ebbets Field. Musial rarely experienced long slumps; he put together strong starts, solid mid-seasons, and great finishes. He hit .323 or better in every month of the season, with September-October his best stretches. He was also the first man to play more than 1,000 games each at two positions. Immediately following Musial's retirement as an active player in 1964, President Johnson named him director of the National Council on Physical Fitness. For a single season, 1967, Musial was St. Louis's general manager. With Musial's longtime roommate and close friend Red Schoendienst as field manager, the Cardinals romped to a pennant and beat the Red Sox in the World Series. On or off the field he wore a smile and meant it. Although he obviously did not always agree with umpires or managers, he did not argue calls or tactical moves. He made time for his family, fans, church, and civic organizations. A bronze statue stands in front of Busch Stadium in St. Louis as a permanent tribute to the greatest Cardinal, Stan the Man. And in 1972 he achieved the unique distinction of becoming the first foreigner to receive the Polish government's Merited Champions Medal, their highest sports award.

Lefty Gomez Remembered mainly for his colorful personality, Lefty Gomez was also one of baseball's greatest winners, ranking third in Yankee history in regular-season wins with 189. His 6-0 World Series record gave him the most wins without a loss in World Series history. His three victories in All-Star Game competition (against one loss) also are a record. Gomez's zaniness set him apart from the decorous Yankees of the 1930s. He once held up a World Series game, exasperating manager Joe McCarthy (as he did with some frequency), to watch an airplane pass by. Gomez got away with needling his buddy, Joe DiMaggio, because DiMaggio, like everyone else, enjoyed the Gomez wit, which produced such statements as: "I've got a new invention. It's a revolving bowl for tired goldfish." The Yankees purchased Gomez from his hometown San Francisco Seals in 1929 for $35,000. Two years later he won 21 games for them. His smoking fastball belied his slender frame. He was a nail, with a whiplash arm and a high leg kick. Gomez and righthander Red Ruffing formed the lefty-righty pitching core for the great New York teams of the 1930s. In 1934 he led the league in seven major categories, including wins (26), ERA (2.33), and strikeouts (158), the pitching equivalent of the Triple Crown. He led the league again in the top three pitching categories in 1937. Arm miseries hounded him throughout his career. As his fastball lost its effectiveness, Gomez moved from power pitcher to finesse pitcher. "I'm throwing as hard as I ever did," he quipped, "the ball's just not getting there as fast." Gomez fooled hitters and made a beautiful, slow curve work for him. He had a great comeback in 1941 (15-5) after a 3-3 mark in 1940, leading the league in winning percentage (.750). Gomez threw a shutout in 1941 while issuing 11 walks, the most walks ever allowed in a shutout. And though a notoriously poor hitter, he produced the first RBI in All-Star history and singled home the winning run in the 1937 World Series clincher. After pitching one game for Washington (he lost) in 1943, Gomez retired, later to hook up with the Wilson sporting goods company as a goodwill ambassador. He was asked on joining Wilson why he had left his last position. Gomez, who never took himself seriously, responded that he left because he couldn't "get the side out."

I can't believe Ruth or Gehrig were not covered in here before. :facepalm:

Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig Lou Gehrig was the greatest first baseman ever and a key component in the Yankee legend. Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played perfectly reflected his steady, dependable character. Because he was also handsome, a native New Yorker, and eventually a tragic figure, he became as glamorous as a retiring "mama's boy" could be. Born in a German neighborhood, Gehrig began his legendary career at Columbia University. Freshmen weren't eligible for varsity play, but in his sophomore season Gehrig set multiple school records, most notably season marks of seven HR, a .444 batting average, and a .937 slugging average. Also a pitcher, he still holds the Columbia record for strikeouts in a game, fanning 17 Williams batters in a game he lost. It is rumored that Columbia coach Andy Coakley, a former major leaguer, was paid $500 by the Yankees to convince the youngster to sign with the Yankees. By the way, although Gehrig did hit some prodigious shots at Columbia, he never hit one through a window in the athletic office in Low Library, as depicted in The Pride of the Yankees - nobody could. It was in 1927, when he was moved to the cleanup spot and had Bob Meusel protecting him in the order that became known as Murderer's Row, that Gehrig put up big numbers for the first time. He won the MVP award (then given by the league and not awarded to repeat winners) and led the AL with 175 RBI, 52 doubles, and 447 total bases. He finished behind Ruth with 47 HR, 149 runs, a .765 slugging average, and 109 walks. His .373 batting average also ranked second. Ruth and Gehrig carried the Yankees, but there were some years when they just weren't enough. Connie Mack's Athletics won three straight years, 1929-31, before the Yankees came back in 1932 for another World Championship. In the following seasons, it became clear that Ruth was fading. In their last year together, 1934, Gehrig won the Triple Crown with 49 HR, 165 RBI, and a .363 BA; in 1935 he dropped off to .329 with 30 HR and 119 RBI. He was also bothered more and more by lumbago; in 1934 he had suffered an attack on the field and had to be carried off. He was quite aware of his consecutive games streak, as were manager Joe McCarthy and the writers. The next day he was penciled in the lineup as the leadoff hitter, listed at shortstop. Hardly able to stand, he singled, and Red Rolfe pinch ran for him and finished the game at shortstop. He kept his string going through the years despite a broken thumb, a broken toe, back spasms, and lumbago, stoically, in fact proudly, playing through the pain. The arrival of Joe DiMaggio in 1936 made enough of a difference that Gehrig had his last two great seasons in 1936 and 1937 as the Yankees won World Championships. The Giants managed something no other team had done since 1926: they won a World Series game from the Yankees. But Gehrig homered in close contests in Games Three and Four. He was always a good World Series hitter, with 10 HR lifetime, including a record-setting four in the four-game 1928 WS. The Yankees repeated in 1938, but Gehrig dropped below .300 for the first time since his rookie season. In 1939 he was obviously enfeebled, and on May 2 he took himself out of the lineup. He was hitting just .143, and was quite clumsy afield. Many players were afraid he would injure himself, but nobody would suggest that he sit down, not even manager McCarthy. Gehrig had to take the initiative himself. He never played again, and although, in his capacity as team captain, he continued to carry the lineup card out every day, eventually even that proved more than he could handle. He was diagnosed as having a rare, almost unknown, and incurable disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, forever after known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It was not announced that he was doomed, although many suspected it and Gehrig knew. On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig Day was held at Yankee Stadium. It may be the most famous ceremony in baseball history, with Gehrig's assertion that "today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" an unforgettable statement. The waiting period for the new Hall of Fame was waived, and he was admitted the year it opened, in 1939. He spent his last two years of life working for New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and died on June 2, 1941.

George Herman "Babe" Ruth Born George Herman Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, MD. Died August 16, 1948, New York, NY Batted: Left Threw: Left Nicknames The Bambino,The Sultan Of Swat Also known as "The Colossus of Clout," "The Wali of Wallop," "The Wazir of Wham," "The Maharajah of Mash," "The Rajah of Rap," "The Caliph of Clout," and "The Behemoth of Bust." Ruth was first called "Babe" by teammates on the Baltimore Orioles, because of his boyish face and his young age. "He was a circus, a play and a movie, all rolled into one," said teammate Lefty Gomez. "Kids adored him, Men idolized him. Women loved him. There was something about him that made him great." Babe Ruth was more than a great baseball player, he was an American hero who became a legend and an icon. Long after his last home run, his name has come to signify greatness and strength. Early in life it was not evident that George Herman "Babe" Ruth would be a slugger of legendary proportions. He was an awkward-looking young man from the streets of Baltimore, where he grew up in the care of his father, a saloon-kepper, and later in a boys home, after his parents gave up trying to keep him out of trouble. It was in the boys home that Ruth learned to harness his great energy and play the game of baseball. He signed with the mionor league Baltimore Orioles in 1912 and by 1914 he was in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox, as a pitcher. The Red Sox were the best team in the American League, and a perfect place for Ruth to learn to be a major leaguer. In 1916 he got his first chance to pitch in a World Series and made the most of his one appearance. After giving up a run in the first inning, he drove in the tying run himself, then held the Brooklyn Dodgers scoreless for the next eleven innings until his team could score the winning run. In the 1918 World Series he continued his pitching heroics, running his series record to 29 2/3 scoreless innings, a mark that stood for forty-three years. With the talented Sox, Ruth went 18-8 in 1915, 23-12 (with a league-leading 1.75 ERA and nine shutouts) in 1916, 24-13 (2.01 ERA) in 1917, and 13-7 in 1918. He was the winningest left-handed pitcher in baseball from 1915-1917. The Red Sox won the World Series in 1915, 1916 and 1918. Ruth's pitching mark was 89-46 with the Sox, but his booming bat was too loud to be heard only every four days. Red Sox manager Ed Barrow, at the suggestion of outfielder Harry Hooper, began playing the Babe in the outfield in-between his starts. In 1918, Ruth led the American League with 11 home runs, despite playing just 59 games as an outfielder. The next season he started just 15 games on the mound and led the loop in homers again, with an unheard of total of 29. He was gaining attention with his home run trot, rounding the bases with what one observer noted were tiny "debutante" ankles. In 1919, he played 130 games and was now an everyday player. He seemed poised to lead the Red Sox to the top of the league for years to come. But, despite Ruth's obvious value as a slugger, he was dealt to the New York Yankees prior to the 1920 season, in a deal that haunted Boston owner Harry Frazee for years to come. Over the next 15 years, Ruth would hit hundreds of homers while helping the Yankees to the World Series seven times. The Red Sox did not win another World Series title for 86 years. Crushed by his sale to the Yankees, Ruth was unsure of his future in New York. But his doubts failed to affect his performance in 1920. Ruth's 54 homers surpassed every other team in the majors except one. That same season, Ruth slugged an astonishing .847, a record that stood for more than 80 years. In 1920, the Yankees, coincidentally, became the first team to draw more than one million fans to a ballpark, more than double the attendance of any other club. As Yankee manager Miller Huggins said, "They all flock to see him," because the American fan "likes the fellow who carries the wallop." Jail Stripes to Pinstripes On the morning of June 8, 1921, Ruth was arrested for speeding in New York City. Sitting in jail while he arranged for his release, Ruth was allowed to change into his uniform in his cell. He arrived at Yankee Stadium in time to play in New York's 4-3 victory over Cleveland. Babe Ruth died of cancer at 8:01 p.m., August 16, 1948. He was only fifty-three years old. Over 100,000 fans paid their respects at Yankee Stadium, where he lay in rest. Grieving fathers held up their sons for a final look at the face of the greatest player in baseball history. Ruth's old teammates volunteered as pallbearers and the flag at Yankee Stadium flew at half-mast. Ruthian Feats Three home runs in a World Series game twice... The Babe hit 340 solo home runs, 252 two-run shots, and 98 three-run taters. He also slugged 16 Grand Slams... 51% of his homers came with a man or men on base... He hit 16 homers in extra-innings, 10 inside-the-park variety, and one as a pinch-hitter (in 1916 with the Red Sox)... 459 of his career regular season homers came against right-handed pitchers, or 64%. 219 times he blasted a circuit blow off a lefty... In six seasons with the Red Sox he hit 49 homers, 11 in Fenway Park, 38 on the road. With the Yankees in 15 seasons, he slugged 659 long blows, 334 at home, 325 on the road... Ruth hit at least one home run in 12 different ballparks... 72 times, Ruth slugged a pair of homers in a game, a major league record that still stands. He connected for three homers on May 21, 1930, with New York, and with the Braves on May 25, 1935, including the final homer of his career, off Pirate Guy Bush... His 686 home runs as an outfielder are the most by any player at any position. He hit 15 long balls as a pitcher... Collected RBI in 11 consecutive games in 1931... Stole home 10 times... Won two legs of the Triple Crown seven times (1919, 1920-1921, 1923-1924, 1926, 1928)... First player to hit three home runs in a single game in the AL and NL... 11 consecutive games with at least one extra-base hit (August 28 to September 8, 1921) the second longest streak in major league history... Holds the all-time single season record for most total bases (457 in 1921) and times reached base (375 in 1923)... Three times he had 4 extra-base hits in a game... Ruth had six five-hit games in his career... Scored five runs in a game twice... On April 20, 1926, he drove in eight runs, his career high... Collected more RBI than games played in six seasons. (1921-27-29-30-31-32).

Bill Dickey The premier catcher of the late 1930s and early 1940s, the lefthanded-hitting Dickey was the soul of the Yankee dynasty bridging the Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio eras as a player, and the Mickey Mantle era as a coach. He was a keen handler of pitchers, especially the erratic Lefty Gomez, as quiet as his roommate, Gehrig, consistent, setting a major league record for catching 100 or more games in 13 straight seasons, and never played another game at another position. He was the first Yankee to find out about Gehrig's illness and was the only active player to play himself in the Gary Cooper movie "Pride of the Yankees." The Yankees retired his number 8, but ironically Dickey didn't wear that number at the start or the end of his Yankee days. When Dickey first came up, Benny Bengough wore number eight. When he came back to coach, Yogi Berra was wearing it. Dickey's quiet demeanor off the field belied fiery behavior behind the plate. On July 4, 1932 he was suspended for 30 days and fined $1,000 for breaking the jaw of the Senators' Carl Reynolds with one punch, after a collision at home plate. In the 1934 All-Star Game, Dickey broke Carl Hubbell's strikeout string with a single. After six straight .300-plus seasons, Dickey dipped to .279 in 1935, but came back the next season with a fury. From 1936 to 1939, Dickey, who had never hit more than 14 homers in a season, belted 102 in four years. He had a career high of 29 in 1937, including grand slams on consecutive days, August 3 and 4. His batting average bloomed as well, with a career-high .362 in 1936, followed by a .332 mark in 1937. Dickey continued his batting onslaught in the second game of the 1936 World Series against the crosstown Giants when he hit a two-run homer and knocked in five runs. On July 26, 1939 he slammed three straight homers against the Browns in a 14-1 win. In the four-game World Series sweep that year against the Reds, Dickey slammed two homers and drove in five runs, including the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in Game One. Dickey also caught more World Series games than any catcher, 38. Both Dickey's average and power dropped drastically in 1940 and 1941, totaling only 16 homers in two years. In 1942, Dickey caught only 82 games, and only 85 in 1943, but drove in the only two runs with a homer in the fifth and final game of the World Series against the Cardinals, avenging the Yankees' loss the year before. At the end of the season, at age 36, Dickey enlisted in the Navy. He came back for a final go-round in 1946, but appeared in only 54 games. Midway through the season, he took over the managerial reins from Joe McCarthy, who had gone to manage the Red Sox. He guided the Yankees to a 57-48 mark, but resigned right after the season. He came back as a coach under Casey Stengel from 1947 to 1957, passing along his knowledge to Berra. He scouted for the Yankees in 1959 before retiring.

Eddie Collins Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. (May 2, 1887 – March 25, 1951), nicknamed "Cocky", was an American second baseman, manager and executive in Major League Baseball who played from 1906 to 1930 for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox. At the end of his career, he ranked second in major league history in career games (2,826), walks (1,499) and stolen bases (744), third in runs scored (1,821), fourth in hits (3,315) and at bats (9,949), sixth in on base percentage (.424), and eighth in total bases (4,268); he was also fourth in AL history in triples (187). He still holds the major league record of 512 career sacrifice hits, over 100 more than any other player. He was the first major leaguer in modern history to steal 80 bases in a season, and still shares the major league record of six steals in a game, which he accomplished twice in September 1912. He regularly batted over .320, retiring with a career average of .333. He also holds major league records for career games (2,650), assists (7,630) and total chances (14,591) at second base, and ranks second in putouts (6,526). Under the win shares statistical rating system created by baseball historian and analyst Bill James, Collins was the greatest second baseman of all time. Collins was part of the Athletics' so-called "$100,000 infield" (and the highest-paid of the quartet) which propelled the team to four American League (AL) pennants and three World Series titles between 1910 and 1914. He earned the league's Chalmers Award (early Most Valuable Player recognition) in 1914. In 1914, the newly formed Federal League disrupted Major League contract stability by luring away established stars from the AL and NL with inflated salaries. To retain Collins, Athletics manager Connie Mack offered his second baseman the longest guaranteed contract (five years) that had ever been offered to a player. Collins declined, and after the 1914 season Mack sold Collins to the White Sox for $50,000, the highest price ever paid for a player up to that point. The Sox paid Collins $15,000 for 1915, making him the third highest paid player in the league, behind Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker. In Chicago, Collins continued to post top-ten batting and stolen base numbers, and he helped the Sox capture pennants in 1917 and 1919. He was part of the notorious "Black Sox" team that threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds; Collins was not part of the conspiracy and played honestly (his low .226 batting average notwithstanding). He was the playing manager of the White Sox from August 1924 through the 1926 season, posting a record of 174-160 (.521). He then returned to the Athletics in 1927 and retired after the 1930 season. In 1931-1932, he served as a Philadelphia coach and, from 1933 through 1947, as the general manager for the Boston Red Sox. Collins finished his career with 1,300 runs batted in. Collins is still the only player in history to play for two teams in at least 12 seasons each. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

1927 Continued Any conversation about the '27 Yankee ballclub starts with this man here. The Babe gets his second hit of the day, this one a double to death valley. Here's Yankee Stadium. In 1927 this ballpark was only five years old. White Sox third sacker Willie Kamm again. Kamm had a lifetime average of .281 and had 1,643 hits. He was regarded as one of the top third baseman of his day. Lou Gehrig makes the putout on a close play to nip this speedy Chicago runner. No coverage of this mod should go without a notice to this guy here. Simply put, he was one of the greatest Yankees ever. Here comes George Pipgras to close out this game in the '27 mod. The big difference between the first version of this mod and this one here is this version I won't be deleting as soon as the game was done. This mod has a permanent home on my system. Some videos from the 1927 mod. Babe Ruth hits a triple to center field. Lou Gehrig hits a sacrifice fly that proved to be the winning run in today's game.

Next up is a revisit of the 1927 mod. This will be a first in this thread by the way - another review of a mod that has been covered here previously. But you will soon see that there is a very good reason for it. The first version of the '27 mod didn't go over so well and I explained the reasons for it. But version 2.0 that was updated by Jim825 give this mod and entire new look and feel. The 1927 mod, version 2.0 can be downloaded right here. Among the number of improvements added to this version that the first one either lacked or did not contain at all are correct and accurate rosters as well as the 1927 season schedule. The uniforms are correct in this version as well as updated stadiums and player audio. And Trues contributed a overlay for this version that gives this mod a touch of class because this is a year that is very historical as well as sentimental for baseball fans to this very day. A list of all the improvements can be read on the download page. From audio to time period music to cyberfaces, this here is a major update and well worth having. So, let's check out version two of this mod and see what we got. Screenshots Here's part of Murderer's Row, lead by Lou Gehrig. The Yankees won 110 games that year. Again, the proper time period uniforms are available in this version. This was not here in the previous one. Here's Trues' 1927 Classic Overlay for this mod. If any of you have some time, check out how many overlays that he has in the download section. This one has to be in his top five because it fits so perfectly in this mod. The starting pitcher for Chicago today is Ted Lyons. Lyons had a 21 year career in baseball, all with the White Sox. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955. The ball gets away briefly from the Sox catcher but Tony Lazzeri does not advance. Waite Hoyt records one of his strikeouts on the day. Bob Meusal singles off Willie Kamm's glove in the sixth inning and reaches first safely.

I think there is nothing wrong with this wallpaper. Heck, if I was a Rays fan this would be my desktop right now.

And when did I apologize? Because I didn't. Let's get this thread back on track.