Business Commons^™

Ruth's First, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

A hundred years ago, Babe Ruth strode to the plate and cracked his first major league home run on May 5, 1915. Twenty years later he would hit No. 714, a milestone that would stand for generations. 712, 713, and 714 came in Pittsburgh a few weeks before his retirement, and 714 was the first ball ever hit over the roof of Forbes Field in right, and it came to rest in a small park across the street. It was the longest home run, some would say, of his career.