They Called Him BABE
…and then began sobbing as he was overwhelmed by the…
Bygone baseball by C. Philip Francis
Whenever the conversation turns to baseball and THE BABE is mentioned that always refers to the one and only BABE RUTH, but did you know that at least fourteen other players named BABE have played major league baseball? You might think that it was the most common sobriquet in baseball, but we found approximately 100 “Reds” and almost 50 “Docs” listed in The Baseball Encyclopedia. How many BABEs can you name, and if you need help check out the following fifteen ballplayers named BABE. Start with Ruth and go from there.
---Charles Benjamin BABE Adams was a right-hander who lost one game with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1906 before moving to Pittsburgh where he won 194 games over the next 18 years. Adams became the first pitcher to win three games in a seven-game World Series (1909) when the Pirates downed Ty Cobb and his Detroit Tigers four games to three.
---Herbert Paul BABE Barna had a five-year career with four teams over the period from 1937 through 1943. The West Virginia born outfielder hit .389 for the A’s in his first major league season, but was never able to match his rookie year stats.
---Ellsworth Tenny BABE Dahlgren carved out his niche in baseball history when he replaced Lou Gehrig at first base on May 2,1939 snapping the immortal Yankee’s 2,130 consecutive games. Few remember Dahlgren hit a home run that historical game in Detroit’s Briggs Stadium, and that he stayed on as the regular New York first sacker for three years. He was often traded in his 12 ML years although he was chosen for the 1943 All-Star game, and retired shortly after World War II ended.
---Werner Joseph BABE Birrer won only four games in his abbreviated three-year pitching career in the mid-1950’s. He earned his nickname by hitting two three-run homers during a four-inning relief job for the Tigers, but never hit another.
---William Baker BABE Borton handled first base for four teams in his four-season playing career from 1912 through 1916.
---Harold P. BABE Danzig appeared in six games for the Boston Red Sox in 1909.
---Herbert Spencer BABE Ellison played at every position except pitcher and catcher in his five years with the Detroit Tigers from 1916 to 1920. He finished with one home run and a BA of .216.
---Foster Pirie BABE Ganzel was on a total of 23 lineup cards as outfielder for the Washington Senators in 1927 and 1928. He hit an impressive .438 his first year with one home run, but fell to a minuscule .077 the following season.
---Floyd Caves BABE Herman was a fine hitter as attested by his .393 in 1930. He hit the first ever night game home run in 1935 and hit for the cycle three times, but was the first to say, “I wasn’t the world’s greatest fielder.” As a rookie with Brooklyn in 1926 he temporary took over first base. He was hitting over .300 when Manager “Uncle Robbie” Robinson decided to keep BABE in the lineup, and asked if he could handle the outfield. Herman said that he could do a good job, but had one problem. When asked about that one problem, BABE said that he had trouble judging fly balls. As it turned out he did. BABE is famous for the Dodger gaffe when he doubled into a double play when three runners all stopped together at third base.
Six of his 13 ML years were with Brooklyn as the leader of a collection of anomalies called the “Daffiness Boys”, and was traded four times in the next six years before ending up in Detroit where he retired in 1937. Eight years later, however, when World War II had taken so many ballplayers BABE was signed up as a pinch-hitter at age 42. In his first game back Herman singled to right, rounded first, and then fell flat on his face.
---Boris Michael BABE Martin saw little playing time with the Browns and Red Sox during his six year career in the 1940’s.
---Ernest Gordon BABE Phelps stayed in the big leagues for 11 years, mostly with the Dodgers in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s, but could seldom get his strong bat in the lineup enough to become a superstar. The 6’2”, 225 catcher’s .367 batting average in 1936 was a record for a receiver. BABE was called Blimp or the Grounded Blimp as he fought hypochondria and the fear of heights throughout his career.
---Ralph Arthur BABE Pinelli was the third baseman for Cincinnati Reds for four years in the 1920’s although he is better remembered as a well-respected National League umpire for 22 years. In his final game before hanging up his umpiring clothes for good Pinelli was behind the plate when Yankee pitcher Don Larsen’s threw his perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Pinelli called pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell out on a third strike ending the game, and then began sobbing as he was overwhelmed by the extraordinary baseball moment.
---Jay King BABE Towne appeared in only 13 major league games but they happened to be the with the 1906 World Championship Chicago White Sox. The White Sox were able to overcome the Highlanders (Yankees) and Indians to capture the pennant on an anemic batting average of .230, and were thereafter known as the Hitless Wonders. They then stunned the highly favored cross-town Chicago Cubs by taking four in the seven-game series with Towne going to bat one time.
---Norman Robert BABE Young played first base during his eight baseball years in the 1940’s that included six with the New York Giants followed by short stints with the Reds and Cards. The Fordham University graduate closed down his career with a BA of .273.---Loren Rolland BABE, the only player whose last name is BABE, was a utility infielder for the Yankees and A’s in 1953 and ’54.
How many did you remember?