A 47-year-old Babe Ruth takes some batting practice from Yankees utility infielder Jerry Priddy before his duel in two days with Walter Johnson. Both baseball legends were taking part in a war benefit on August 23rd for Army and Navy between games of a Senators and Yankees doubleheader. During the batting practice, the Sultan of Swat was able to shake off the cobwebs enough to deposit three balls into the right field bleachers.
The Babe was ready.
Two days later Johnson and Ruth had their face-off and they did not disappoint, on one of the first pitches Ruth faced from the now 55–year-old hurler he smacked good and without looking ran, not trotted, around the bases never realizing to the amusement of all, including The Big Train, the ball had hooked foul, and not sure if anyone ever broke the news to the sweating Babe as he retreated to the dugout to loud cheers of more than 69,000 fans as if it was 1923 all over again.
But more importantly, both Hall of Famers helped raise $83,000 for the ongoing war effort.
-Ron A. Bolton