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The Daily Dose/July 18 2011
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Notes from around The Human Experience...
GET OUT YOUR HISTORY BOOKS: Babe Ruth becomes major league baseball's career home run leader on this date in 1921.
Now, those familiar with that era of baseball history know that Ruth was still fairly early on in his career - his first home run came in 1915 - and that there weren't a whole lot of home runs hit back then, but some might still find it surprising that Ruth only had to hit 139 home runs to break the career record.
Dry, Technical Matter: Ruth broke Roger Connor's record. Connor had set the record in 1895 with career home run number 126.
Back On Message: Ruth had tied the record on July 15 in St. Louis, and he broke it in Detroit, in the eighth inning, connecting off of Bert Cole, who was on in relief of Howard Ehmke, whom the Yankees had smacked around for seven innings on their way to a 10-1 victory.
Oh Yeah: With the win the Yankees stay one game behind the pesky defending world champion Cleveland Indians in the American League. The Indians got two in the seventh to beat visiting Washington 3-2.
Historical Context: A Tiger loss in 1921 wasn't exactly a bulletin. It was their fifth straight of a six game losing streak, and they would finish 1921 in sixth place, 27 games behind the pennant winning Yankees. The Tigers were managed by a rookie manager named Ty Cobb, who was still a couple of years away from becoming baseball's career hit leader.
Great Timing, Mr. Cobb: On this date in 1927 Cobb did become the first player to reach the 4,000 hit mark, doubling off of Philadelphia's Sam Gibson, in a 5-3 Tiger home victory.
Back On Message II: The record breaking home run was Ruth's 36 home run of the season. Ruth would finish 1921 with 59 home runs, five more than he hit in 1920 and the third consecutive year he had broken the single season home run record.
Numbers Crunching: Ruth would hold the career home run record for 19,257 days, over 50 years, until Hank Aaron broke it on April 8, 1974.
Most Places Have Interns For This: Also on July 18, 1921 Drew Rader plays in his only major league game, for Pittsburgh. He threw two innings and went 0-1 at the plate and had no decision in the Pirates' 12-1 loss in New York against the Giants.
The Post Game Show Is Brought To You By Cliff's Speakeasy: The Giants moved to within two of the Pirates in the race for first in the National League with the win.
You Do The Math: In 1921 a dollar was worth, more or less, $12 today. Bacon was ten cents a pound, eggs just under fifty cents a dozen and razors, historically an expensive item, cost between $1.50 and $4.
A new Chalmers automobile cost just under $3,000 while a house with a garage cost about $6,500.
Show Me The Money: Babe Ruth made $30,000 in 1921.
Also From The 1921 Desk: The Ottawa Senators defeated the Vancouver Millionaires three games to two to win the Stanley Cup, Cal smacked around Ohio State 28-0 in the 1921 Rose Bowl and Warren G. Harding, generally regarded as one of the worst presidents in US history, takes office, replacing Woodrow Wilson.
In August, World War I would formally end the first baseball game is broadcast on the radio, with Harold Arlin behind the microphone for KDKA, Pittsburgh as the Pirates hosted the Philadelphia Phillies. In October Centre Collage would defeat Harvard in football 6-0, Harvard's first loss in five years.
Fly In The Ointment: A famine in Russia would kill five million people.
Wild Blue Yonder: What will eventually become the United States Air Force is formed on this date in 1914, with Congress authorizing the Aviation Section of the Army Signal Corps.
Hi Didley Dee, The Mouse Life For Me: Disneyland opens to the general public on this date in 1955. The first of the estimated 50,000 guests began lining up as early as 2am.
3…2…1…Blast Off: Gemini 10 takes off on this date in 1965. Commanded by John Young and piloted by Michael Collins, Gemini 10 would spend just under three days in space, dock and undock with an already-in-orbit spacecraft a couple of times, and Collins did two spacewalks. It was the eighth of ten manned Gemini flights.
More 3…2…1…Blastoff: Also on this date, in 1969, Collins, along with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, are on their way to the Moon on board Apollo 11.
All Right, We Won't Super Size You: Malcontent James Huberty kills 21 people and injures 19 others while shooting up a McDonalds in San Ysidro, California on this date in 1984. 77 minutes into the standoff, Huberty would be be shot and killed by the police.
Gee, Thanks: Huberty's wife, Etna, does not get the Wife of the Year Award. Despite the fact her husband had said he was "hunting humans" when he left the house that day, and that he had told her "society had its chance" the day before, Etna decided this wasn't important enough to tell anyone about.
We Are Not Making This Up: Etna Huberty later sued McDonalds, saying the massacre had been caused, in part, because her husband had eaten too many Chicken McNuggets. Her suit was unsuccessful.
Thought For The Day: It is a poor sort of man who is content to be spoon-fed knowledge that has been filtered through the canon of religious or political belief. - Louis L'Amour, The Walking Drum
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: On May 12, 1924 Woolworth's replaced Republic Iron and Steel as a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Today's Stumper: How long did Roger Connor remain in the top ten of baseball's career home run list.? - Answer next time!
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