The Babe in Red Stockings: An In-Depth Chronicle of Babe Ruth With the Boston Red Sox, 1914-1919

by Kerry Keene, Linda Ruth Tosetti (Foreword), David Hickey (Contributor)

Although certainly not ignored, his beginnings in major league baseball -- five plus seasons with the Boston Red Sox -- tend to be somewhat glossed over. The extent of Ruth's accomplishments on the field with Boston, as well as his enormous popularity of that period, have never been fully appreciated. In addition, there are dozens of interesting incidents and anecdotes still left to be told.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Biography

307 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Marshall Merims · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book chronicles the details of Babe Ruth's years prior to becoming a New York Yankee. His time in Baltimore and Providence for his lone minor league season where he went 22-9 on the mound and an estimated 28-for-121 at the plate (0.231). The book reads as the authors culled through box scores and accompanying newspaper commentary and transformed the information into a extraordinary baseball story. The multiple chapter back story about how Babe and his manager and the owner evolved from him being a fulltime pitcher to an occasional pinch hitter to an occasional start on defense and finally into a full-fledged talented slugger. Here are some interesting items from the book. 1) Ruth's first home run was in May 1915 at Polo Grounds in a game where he pitched 13 innings and lost. 2) Babe hit 3 homers in 1916. Oddly enough, they were hit over three consecutive days. 3) Just a side note about how much times have changed. The Red Sox played 26 double headers in 1917. Just incredible! 4) May 6 of 1918 is the first time Ruth started a game at a position other than pitcher, and it was actually at 1B. 5) June of 1918, Ruth came to bat three times in the same game with a runner on 2B with 1B open. His bat was already being feared and the Browns intentionally walked him all three times. 6) July of 1919, with so many pitchers frustrated with Ruth's success at the plate, noted NY writer Sid Mercer wrote "Tis better to give Ruth four bad balls and one base than one good ball and four bases". 7) An entire chapter was devoted to the various reasons for Ruth's sale to the Yankees. It was far more and not very connected to the owner needing money to fund a theatrical play. Ruth had left the club twice, disobeyed orders from the manager, and was unable to be disciplined. 8) And during Babe's 5 seasons with the Red Sox, they won the World Series three times. They plummeted to 6th place in his final season there in 1919 and did not reach 0.500 again until 1934. The Curse of the Bambino was in full swing. I give this book 5 baseballs.

[Ron Kaplan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Babe Ruth,Red Sox