The Curse of the Bambino

Purple Haze

Literally Stimulated
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Sep 19, 2000
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http://www.baseballhistorian.com/assets/images/babe_pitching.jpg


In 1914 the Boston Red Sox bought Babe Ruth from the Baltimore club, who were a minor league team during this era, and immediately signed him for $3,500 a year, three times the amount he was being paid. During the next 3-years Ruth was the best left-hander in baseball. He chalked up 18 wins in 1915, 23 in 1916 and 24 in 1917. In all 3 of those years opponents batted under .220 against him. In 1916 he led the league with a 1.75 ERA and spun a league leading nine shutouts. In 1917, Ruth was 24-13, completing 35 of the 38 games he started. He allowed only 244 hitters in 326 innings._ The 'Bambino' as Ruth was called, intimidated batters with his imposing size, 6'2" 220lbs.

In the 1916 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Ruth and Sherry Smith opposed each other in one of the greatest pitching duels in history. The Dodgers scored in the 1st inning, the Red Sox in the 3rd and the game was still tied 1-1 until the last of the 14th when the Red Sox scored and won. Both Ruth and Sherry Smith pitched the entire game, which is still the longest World Series game ever played.

In the 1918 World Series vs the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth hurled a 6-hit shutout in Game 1. In Game 4, the Cubs scored their first run in the 8th inning to break Ruth's record string of 29 1/3 scoreless innings. Ruth's mark stood until 1961 when Whitey Ford broke it.

The following year 1919, he played 111 games in the outfield when he wasn't pitching and slugged 29 home runs, the most in major league history, and for good measure, 'the bambino' hit a homer in every American League park. He led the league in runs (103), in RBIs (114), in on-base-pct and slugging pct.

The Boston Red Sox won four World Series in the eight years Babe Ruth played on the team. They sold Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 and a $300,000 loan because Boston's owner Harry Frazee needed the cash to invest in a new play_ on Broadway. As noted since the cash transaction, Boston's inability to win a single World Series Title has been attributed to "The Curse of the Bambino."


Babe Ruth pitching career: 94 Wins 46 Losses, .671 pct. 2.28 ERA,
started 148 games and completed 107, opponents batting ave .221.

http://www.baseballhistorian.com/html/babe_curse.htm
 
One of the signs tonight said...

And God said...Let the curse be lifted.

Amen.
 
The "curse" is just the result of Boston being filled with lots of douchebag literary types.
 
Nike just aired a commercial which will no doubt make Red Sox fans cry tears of joy.

It covers 1918-tonight. Keep your eyes out if you didn't catch it just now.
 
RoryN said:
Nike just aired a commercial which will no doubt make Red Sox fans cry tears of joy.

It covers 1918-tonight. Keep your eyes out if you didn't catch it just now.

I missed it cause I was posting... :rolleyes: ...but my bf saw it and loved it.
 
RoryN said:
Nike just aired a commercial which will no doubt make Red Sox fans cry tears of joy.

It covers 1918-tonight. Keep your eyes out if you didn't catch it just now.

I saw it, and it was beautiful. Go Sox! The Series awaits!
 
Religious superstition and baseball. Reminds me of American politics.
 
Purple Haze said:
As noted since the cash transaction, Boston's inability to win a single World Series Title has been attributed to "The Curse of the Bambino."

The Sox didn't win a world series yet.. so the curse is still alive and well and will be if the Sox can't win four more games.

But hey, enjoy the sweet taste of Yanks bashing Sox fan..

And keep Buckner away from Fenway while you're at it.
 
Purple Haze said:
They sold Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 and a $300,000 loan because Boston's owner Harry Frazee needed the cash to invest in a new play_ on Broadway.


I wonder what the play was and if it was a bomb or a hit?


Edit: nevermind, I looked it up. *laughs*
 
Last edited:
Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Nora said:
I wonder what the play was and if it was a bomb or a hit?


Edit: nevermind, I looked it up. *laughs*

Too funny. That's the same thought I had.

Edit: I'm too lazy. Tell me.
 
Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Freya said:
Too funny. That's the same thought I had.

Edit: I'm too lazy. Tell me.

Were you dorky enough to look it up?


(the answer is yes and no. The first play "No, No, Nanette" was a hit and gave us the song "Tea for two". His second, "Yes, Yes, Yvette" bombed. From here )
 
i'm not usually into baseball but i watched the majority of the series. tonights game was great. i'm happy for boston.
 
Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Nora said:
I wonder what the play was and if it was a bomb or a hit?


Edit: nevermind, I looked it up. *laughs*

Did you also find out that, that's an old New England wife's tale? lol They sold Ruth because he was difficult, undisciplined, hugely problematic and a massive risk to the integrity of the team.

Oh, and they were stupid.

The play is a red herring.
 
Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

sunstruck said:
Did you also find out that, that's an old New England wife's tale? lol They sold Ruth because he was difficult, undisciplined, hugely problematic and a massive risk to the integrity of the team.

Oh, and they were stupid.

The play is a red herring.

No, this is a red herring.

http://www.thetick.ws/images/angryredherring.jpg
 
Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

sunstruck said:
Did you also find out that, that's an old New England wife's tale? lol They sold Ruth because he was difficult, undisciplined, hugely problematic and a massive risk to the integrity of the team.

Oh, and they were stupid.

The play is a red herring.

Why did I think you were KS the first time I scrolled past your post?


Thanks Nora. More completely useless info is always good.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Freya said:
Thanks Nora. More completely useless info is always good.

I'm a fan of useless info. :)
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Nora said:
I'm a fan of useless info. :)

Ditto. I was feeding some to my guy last night as I was studying.

He, of course, was thrilled beyond belief.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Freya said:
Ditto. I was feeding some to my guy last night as I was studying.

He, of course, was thrilled beyond belief.

Kinda like my hubby having to come downstairs to describe a television show to me in great detail. Cuz it's not like I woulda watched it had I been interested, right?

:D
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Nora said:
Kinda like my hubby having to come downstairs to describe a television show to me in great detail. Cuz it's not like I woulda watched it had I been interested, right?

:D

He jumped off his chair in glee when I informed him of the scientific name for the wishbone on a bird.

I'm not exactly sure how he made it all these years without knowing that.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Freya said:
He jumped off his chair in glee when I informed him of the scientific name for the wishbone on a bird.

I'm not exactly sure how he made it all these years without knowing that.


furcula? sheesh. Everyone knows that. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Freya said:
Why did I think you were KS the first time I scrolled past your post?

I have no idea. Some computer glitch that replaced my Fred AV with a Mullet Man?
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Curse of the Bambino

Nora said:
furcula? sheesh. Everyone knows that. :rolleyes:

Exactly. And then when I told him how many nerve cells ants have in their bodies...umm well, he seemed inclined to throttle me actually. I think he was kinda glad when I fell asleep.

Must be the colouring Sunny. I can't explain it, but boy do I feel silly.
 
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