Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?
The 2019 regular baseball season is nearly at an end and, of course, we hope the Cardinals make the playoffs. But a hundred years ago this weekend baseball's greatest legend - Babe Ruth - was about to make a legendary change of address but not before he made some home run history in a game with a Knights of Columbus connection.
"The Curse of Bambino wasn’t a reality yet in the minds of the 31,000 fans who crowded Fenway Park for a double-header on Sept. 20, 1919. They were there to see Babe Ruth pitch and hit for 'Babe Ruth Day'.
Although the Bostonians didn’t realize it, the day would be the final time Ruth played a home-game at Fenway Park in a Red Sox uniform. And it was a game sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus.
Ruth became a Knight earlier that year, joining Pere Marquette Council 271 in South Boston. The council enthusiastically participated in baseball, even having their own competitive team — 'fastest baseball team representing the Order in Greater Boston.'
And they wanted to honor their brother Knight, the game’s rising star. According to the Boston Daily Globe, the council met on Sept. 9 to 'perfect arrangements' for the occasion making 'every effort” to get “every member interested in the testimonial to the king of sluggers.'
That year, Ruth was on his way to becoming the king of sluggers. By late September, he was on pace to tie the single-season home-run record, which then was 27, held by Chicago White Stockings’ Ned Williamson since 1884. But the sixth-placed Red Sox weren’t poised to repeat as World Series champions as they squared off against the first-placed, and now infamous, White Sox in the double-header.
In game one, Ruth started as pitcher, as he did 15 times that season. But during the game, he wasn’t electrifying, giving up three runs for a 3-3 tie going into the 9th inning.
But when he approached the plate as a hitter in the bottom of the 9th, with the game on the line, Ruth did what he did best that season: he hit a home-run. It was a solo, walk-off blast — the first of his career — that sent the ball 'sailing over the scoreboard to the right of the clock and through a window of a building across Landsdowne St.' and tied the single-season home-run record.
Between game one and two, Pere Marquette Council’s Grand Knight Arthur Leary presented Ruth and his wife with $600 in United States Treasury savings certificates. Both teams gathered alongside Ruth and his wife at home plate for the presentation. Besides Ruth, other Knights were present — including Red Sox second baseman Mike McNally along with Eddie Murphy, Shano Collins, Hall of Famer Red Faber and John Sullivan of the White Sox — were presented “fraternal charms.”
(Side note: The White Sox mentioned were not implicated in the Black Sox Scandal — the fixing of the 1919 World Series)
Game two was less dramatic than the first. Ruth went one-for-three, getting an RBI double as the Red Sox went on to beat the White Sox 5-4. A few days later, he would break the single-season home-run record, ending up with 29. The next season, Ruth swapped his Red Sox uniform for New York Yankee pinstripes, kicking off the 86-year “curse” that ended in 2004.
Ruth would remain a member of Pere Marquette Council even after going to the Bronx Bombers and remained active with Knights throughout his life, including through post-season barnstorming tours, until his death in 1948. Knights of Columbus councils throughout the country would sponsor other games with the league’s biggest stars to continue the growth of the sport.
Additional links to information/articles/videos about the games on Babe Ruth Day and other pieces on the Babe's legendary career are on the KofC.org web site or at www.IWKnights.com/bulletin or at facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.
Links Related to this week’s column:
KNIGHTS SPONSORED BABE RUTH’S FINAL RED SOX GAME K OF C COUNCIL RUTH BELONGED TO SPONSORED HIS LAST GAMES AS A BOSTON RED SOX IN FENWAY PARK By Andrew Fowler (9/18/2019) The Curse of Bambino wasn’t a reality yet in the minds of the 31,000 fans who crowded Fenway Park for a double-header on Sept. 20, 1919. They were there to see Babe Ruth pitch and hit for “Babe Ruth Day.” Although the Bostonians didn’t realize it, the day would be the final time Ruth played a home-game at Fenway Park in a Red Sox uniform. And it was a game sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus.
Click here for the article.
KNIGHTS SPONSORED BABE RUTH’S FINAL RED SOX GAME YouTube Videos Courtesy of historycomestolife (2019) In the first Video, Babe Ruth walks to camera in group of men and women. Ruth is presented with six $100 Treasury Certificates. Ruth kisses wife. Ruth with youngsters. CU Ruth swinging bat. The Second video features various clips of Babe Ruth - Mostly silent, with some sound.
Babe Ruth is hero of Boston Red Sox 1919
Babe Ruth footage
Rack-in-the-Back........
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We would like to talk with you about becoming an IW Knight. Please visit us on-line at our web site at www.IWknights.com/AboutUs. Or call Rob Schultz at: (314) 973-2373.
