1948 - Babe Ruth dies at 53
Baseball legend Babe Ruth succumbs to cancer, passing away at the age of 53 at Memorial Hospital in New York.
Ruth, diagnosed with throat cancer in 1946, ended treatment a year later after doctors determined his condition was at an advanced stage. Just months before his passing, Ruth appeared at Yankee Stadium a final time to have his number retired.
He played six seasons as a member of the Boston Red Sox before spending the next 15 with the New York Yankees. Ruth finished his career with the Boston Braves in 1935 at the age of 40.
[Courtesy: MLB.com]
Considered one of the greatest players in the sport's history, Ruth led the league in home runs 12 times and finished with the third-most (714) of all-time. His .342 career batting average places him ninth, and his 183.6 wins above replacement (Baseball-Reference) are the most of any player.
Ruth wasn't just a feared hitter; he was an All-Star pitcher, too. The left-hander crafted a 2.28 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 10 seasons on the mound.
1981 - Cal Ripken Jr. collects first major-league hit
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. records his first major-league hit with a third-inning single off Chicago White Sox right-hander Dennis Lamp.
Ripken's first hit comes in his fifth game and fourth at-bat, paving the way for a Hall of Fame career spanning 21 seasons in Baltimore.
The "Iron Man" holds the record with 2,632 consecutive games played, was a two-time MVP, the 1982 AL Rookie of the Year and earned 19 All-Star selections during his career.
Birthdays
1953 - Nick Leyva
