Oct. 6, 1926: Babe Ruth’s 3 HRs etch his name in Fall Classic lore

In the annals of World Series history, one of the most remarkable events is Babe Ruth‘s incredible feat of hitting three home runs. This historic moment occurred on October 6, 1926, when Babe Ruth became the first player ever to achieve this remarkable feat in a single World Series game. The Bambino’s extraordinary performance unfolded during Game 4 of the World Series, where the New York Yankees triumphed over the St. Louis Cardinals with a final score of 10-5.

Babe Ruth’s first home run of the game was a majestic 395-foot shot, soaring over the right-field bleacher roof of Sportsman’s Park in the opening inning. His second homer was even more awe-inspiring, clearing the right-center roof and traveling an astonishing 515 feet, even breaking a window on the opposite side of Grand Avenue. Both of these incredible blasts were off the Cardinals’ pitcher Flint Rhem.

However, the best one came with Babe Ruth’s final home run of the game, which was an epic shot off Hi Bell. This monumental homer sailed deep into previously uncharted territory, landing in the centerfield bleachers, well beyond the 430-foot mark. Estimated at a jaw-dropping 530 feet, it stands as the longest home run in the history of the World Series.

The prelude to Babe Ruth’s record

The 1926 championship season held the promise of thrilling baseball action. The American League champions boasted a formidable lineup, later renowned as the “Murderer’s Row,” featuring the legendary Babe Ruth, the emerging star “Columbia Lou” Gehrig, and leadoff man Earle Combs. On the opposing side, the St. Louis Cardinals fielded the formidable Rogers Hornsby and talented pitchers Flint Rhem and Bill Sherdel.

Despite the Cardinals’ strong roster, the Yankees were heavily favored to win the championship, and they easily claimed victory in the first game. However, they faced defeat in the second game, largely due to an exceptional complete-game performance by St. Louis pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander. The following day, Cardinal Jessie Haines not only pitched the entire game but also delivered the only home run in a 4-0 victory in Game 3.

As the series progressed to its fourth game, the underdog Cardinals found themselves leading two games to one. They had effectively contained Babe Ruth, limiting him to just two singles and two walks in the Fall Classic, an impressive feat given his reputation for hitting home runs. Babe Ruth rebounded in the 1926 season after a challenging year battling stomach ailments and syphilis in 1925. In ’26, he recaptured the AL home run title for the seventh time, launching 47 home runs while maintaining a stellar batting average of .372/.516/.737 and an impressive 225 OPS+. The legend wasted no time making an impact in Game 4 against the durable St. Louis starter Flint Rhem, who had posted a 3.21 ERA and a 122 ERA+ in the ’26 season, leading the Cardinals’ pitching staff with 34 starts and 258 innings pitched.

Babe Ruth’s record homer spree

The Bambino gave New York a 1-0 lead with a towering home run that appeared to travel an immense distance. The ball soared high in the sky and traveled far, clearing the pavilion before descending among a crowd of fans gathered on Grand Avenue, who were unable to enter the park but were still able to hear the cheering from inside.

In the second inning, Flint Rhem once again faced the Yankees’ batters, successfully retiring Combs and Koenig in the top of the third inning before confronting the formidable Babe Ruth with two outs and an empty base path. Rhem decided to deliver a slow-pitched ball, resembling the size of a derby hat. However, his deceptive pitching motion caught him off guard as he initiated a swift swing, realizing that he was swinging too early. In a fraction of a second, Babe Ruth made a lightning-fast adjustment, retracting his swing and executing a long, deliberate one. With a resounding crack, he sent the baseball soaring high above the right-field bleachers, landing somewhere near the center of the ballpark. This monumental home run propelled the Yankees to a 2-1 lead, a score that would remain intact until the top of the fourth inning.

New York continued to build upon its lead in the top of the sixth inning. Herman Bell, the Cardinals’ pitcher, yielded a single to both Earle Combs and Mark Koenig. To cap off the Yankees’ offensive onslaught in Game 4, Babe Ruth stepped up to the plate once more in the sixth inning, with a runner positioned on first base. The iconic “Sultan of Swat” unleashed his mighty swing, connecting with Bell’s pitch and sending the ball soaring deep into center field. It traveled further than any witnessed ball at Sportsman’s Park, finally coming to rest high in the bleachers, well beyond the location of the 425-foot sign on the stadium wall. While estimates varied, the exact distance of Babe Ruth’s titanic blast remained unknown, but it undeniably extended the Yankees’ lead to a commanding 9-4.

Grover C. Alexander, who was in his 16th season in the majors and worked for the Boston Globe, described the home run as one of the longest he had ever seen during his baseball career. Following the game, when someone suggested that the homer had traveled nearly 600 feet, Babe Ruth proudly expressed his admiration for his remarkable achievement, exclaiming, “Boy, that was a beauty!”

Babe Ruth showed his defensive side too

Remarkably, Babe Ruth wasn’t content with just dominating at the plate; he also showcased his defensive prowess by delivering a crucial outfield assist. He swiftly cut down a Cardinals runner at the plate, effectively extinguishing their rally in the third inning. In the words of broadcaster Graham McNamee, “Babe Ruth, nor any other man, ever made a better throw. Babe shot it like an arrow, and Hank Severeid didn’t have to move a muscle to make the catch.”

As if all these extraordinary feats weren’t enough, this game also marks the occasion when Babe Ruth fulfilled his alleged pre-game promise to hit a home run for the young Johnny Sylvester, who was confined to his bed.

Yankees won the game but lost the series

Regrettably for the Yankees, that particular game did not serve as the series decider. Although they managed to secure a victory in the subsequent game after ten innings, they faced a disheartening eight-run defeat in the following contest. As the series reached its climactic seventh game, the Yankees found themselves trailing by a single run in the ninth inning, with the indomitable Babe Ruth preparing to step up to the plate once more. Holding a 3-2 count, the Yankees legend exhibited exceptional patience, drawing his eleventh walk of the series before leisurely making his way to first base. The Yankees’ prospects plummeted as swiftly as they had risen, however, when the adept second baseman Hornsby swiftly tagged Babe Ruth as he made a somewhat ponderous attempt to steal second base. In an instant, the game concluded. Despite the enchanting performance of the Bambino, the Yankees had experienced defeat.

On October 18, 1977, Yankees’ Reggie Jackson accomplished a remarkable feat by becoming only the second player in history to achieve a three-home run game in a single World Series matchup.

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