July 11, 2014
Written by Rocky Julich

As someone who has been in the game of baseball for seasons, it is always important to be reminded of what was real in the history of “our game”.

I do acknowledge Babe Ruth revered throughout history.

I can’t help but question, does a number need to be retired for the Babe to remain beloved by the population who hear his name. Does the Babe need a number to remind the world of baseball what he stood for and why he is alive in memory 100 years later?

His name says it all – BABE RUTH

April 22, 1914: Babe Ruth’s first Minor League game with the Minor Leagues team of the Orioles of the International League. By July, 2014 Babe Ruth was in the Major Leagues and what followed, today, is 100 years of history.

Facts about Babe Ruth’s debute:

Date: July 11, 1914
Final Score: Red Sox 4, Naps 3
Location: Fenway Park
Attendance: Not Known, but the Red Sox’s average attendance that season, per Baseball Reference, was 6,093.

Ruth’s line: 7.0 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 1 K
He was 0-for-2 at the plate.

Famous K: Ruth struck out in his first at-bat, against Naps pitcher Willie Mitchell, who in 1909 had thrown a perfect game against LSU. In that game, while pitching for Mississippi State, Mitchell logged an incredible 26 strikeouts.

Cooperstown: Three eventual Hall of Famers were on the field that day. Ruth, Boston center fielder Tris Speaker and Cleveland second baseman Nap Lajoie. Hall of Famer right fielder Harry Hooper did not play in this game but was with the Red Sox that season.

Notable opponents: Two other Naps players who faced Ruth that day – “Shoeless Joe Jackson, whose involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal and continued ineligibility for the Hall of Fame remains a subject of great dispute. Also in the game, Ray Chapman, who in 1920 became the only Major League player to die from an injury suffered on the field.

Keeping score of a Major League Baseball game during the regular season is no easy feat.

Keeping score of a Major League Baseball game during the first game of Spring Training  is as amazing as the players used on the field. 

The New York Yankees have 64 players on their Spring Training camp roster: 32 Pitchers, 8 Catchers, 13 Infielders, 11 Outfielders

February 26, 2011     New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia played with, pinch hit and pinch ran and moved around the field 16 men for a total of 37 at bats.  They produced 11 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts with 1 error.  One stolen base.  Zero home runs.  There were 27 putouts and 11 assists on the field.  Philadelphia left 8 men on base.  Six pitchers were used as the  final score was 5 runs by the National League Phillies.

New York played with, pinch hit and pinch ran and moved around the field 18 men for a total of 35 at bats.   They produced 9 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts.  One stolen base.  One home run.  There were 27 putouts and 8 assists on the field.  New York left 10 men on base.  Seven pitchers were used as the final score was 4 runs by the American League Yankees.

Practice, practice, show what you learned and can do.  That is what is logged on the spring training game score sheet.

Oh yes, there were balks and double plays.  

Stay tuned,  Major League Baseball score sheet to follow.