IN THE NEWS: Bradford man Charles Thompson, who witnessed the
final three home runs in Babe Ruth’s legendary career, was featured
in a recent article in the Buffalo News.
A reader dropped off the April 2 clipping and we thought it was
too good to pass up.
We quote: “Thompson, an 85-year-old World War II veteran and a
retired postal worker, watched from the general admission section
of the first base stands on May 25, 1935, as Ruth clubbed career
home runs Nos. 712, 713 and 714 for the Boston Braves in an 11-7
loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates,” according to the story.
The story went on to quote Thompson: “I was 14 years old and
lived in Pittsburgh at the time. The next year we moved and I’ve
spent over 70 years living here (in Bradford).”
“Thompson said he doesn’t recall the Braves using a ghost runner
for Ruth as the 1992 movie, ‘The Babe,’ starring John Goodman,
would have you believe. And Ruth didn’t drop his cap at the feet of
Braves owner Emil Fuchs and walk off the field for good that day,
either.”
“The day I watched him hit the three homers was a Saturday. He
hung around for a few more days,” Thompson said.
Ruth’s final game came May 30, 1935, in Philadelphia and he
struck out in his final at-bat. He retired the next day.
“Against the Pirates, Ruth hit his first homer off Red Lucas and
the last two of his career off Guy Bush,” the story goes on.
“Ruth that day became the first player to hit three homers in a
game in both leagues, having done it three previous times with the
New York Yankees, including Game Four of the 1928 World
Series.”
“The last one was the first one that every cleared the wall at
that park,” said Thompson who was among the estimated crowd of
10,000 at Forbes Field.
The story concludes: “That blast was reported as traveling 600
feet in one newspaper and it capped a day that saw Ruth go 4 for 4
with six RBIs.”
“He played in only 28 games and hit a dismal .181 in 72 at-bats
while striking out 24 times in his last season as a player. The
Braves finished 38-115, a far cry from the powerhouse Yankees teams
he led to four World Series victories.”
