The Called Shot by Thomas Wolf

Author:Thomas Wolf [Wolf, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SPO003030 Sports & Recreation / Baseball / History
Publisher: Nebraska

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As it turned out, Ruth’s injury—once again—healed more quickly than anyone expected. On Thursday, July 21, just three days after collapsing in the outfield, Ruth was back in uniform for a game between the Yankees and the Red Sox. With 1 out and the Red Sox leading, 2–1, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Lazzeri walked and Crosetti singled him to third. Ruth was called upon to pinch hit for Arndt Jorgens. Ruth limped to the plate. He didn’t look capable of running the bases, but he stood in the batter’s box, looking for a pitch to hit. He walked. The rally died as Red Ruffing, also pinch hitting, grounded into a force play and Sammy Byrd struck out.

Two days later, in the first game of a doubleheader, Ruth again appeared as a pinch hitter, and again he walked, though this time it was not an intentional base on balls. Ruth continued to suit up for games, but McCarthy was reluctant to put him back in the lineup where he’d have to perform in the outfield.

Ruth had two more pinch hitting appearances—singling and driving in 2 runs in a game against the A’s and drawing another walk in a game against the Indians—before McCarthy reinserted him in the starting lineup in a game in Cleveland on July 28, ten days after his injury. Against the Indians, Ruth looked completely recovered. He went 3–4 at the plate with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs. After his fourth at-bat, Sammy Byrd entered the game as his defensive replacement.

In the 9 games when the Yankees were without either Ruth or Dickey in the starting lineup, they had won five times and lost four times. No question, the team was deep and talented, even with two regulars sidelined. When Ruth returned to the lineup, the Indians and A’s were tied for second, 8½ games behind.

The Yankees still had 56 games to play, but they were in control, and Dickey was eligible to come back in eleven days.

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