Biography
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The Called Shot
Perhaps the most famous moment in baseball history, and certainly of Babe's career, came during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. In 5th inning, after he had already hit one homer, Babe came up to bat. He ran the count to two balls and two strikes. Before Cubs pitcher Charlie Root hurled the next pitch, amid the heckling of Cubs fans, Babe pointed to the center field bleachers. Then he slammed what is believed to be the longest home run ever hit out of Wrigley Field, directly above the spot where he had pointed. This story has been as debated as often as it has been celebrated. Did he really call his shot, or was he simply pointing at the pitcher? The world may never know. However, to many fans this moment symbolizes the golden age of baseball. The Yankees went on to win the 1932 World Series, their third sweep in four years.
The Beginning of the End
After the death of Yankees manager Miller Huggins in 1929, Babe expressed an interest in managing the team. Joe McCarthy, former Chicago Cubs manager, was chosen instead. Babe and McCarthy did not get along. Babe still harbored hopes to manage a Major League team while continuing his playing career as the most popular player of all time. In 1935, Babe thought he would get the chance to manage the National League Boston Braves. He retired from the Yankees and signed on as a player and first base coach with the understanding that he would become the Braves' manager the next season. However, once again, his managerial hopes were dashed. In one of his final Major League games, he crushed three homers in Pittsburgh. On the final trip around the bases, the Babe tipped his cap to the somber crowd of 10,000 at Forbes Field. That home run would be number 714, the last of his amazing career.
He retired three days later in Boston, still holding out hope that the Yankees would hire him as manager. Instead, they offered him the managerial position of the Newark Bears, one of their minor league franchises. He defiantly turned down the job arguing that many other players jumped directly from their playing days into managing.
Major League Baseball came knocking one last time in 1938 when the Brooklyn Dodgers hired Ruth as a first base coach. Again, he believed that he would take over for Burleigh Grimes as manager after the season ended. Once again, his heart would be broken as Leo Durocher was named manager the following season. Never again would Babe don a Major League uniform.
