Baseball

On January 1, 1911, Henry Benjamin Greenberg was born in New York City, New York. One of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, he put his career on hold to serve 47 months with the Army during World War II, the most of any major league player.

Roy “Campy” Campanella was born on November 19, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Considered one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, he was the first catcher to break organized baseball’s color line when he debuted in the Majors in 1948.

Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma.  Considered the best switch hitter in history, he was a Triple Crown winner, won seven World Series, and was a three-time MVP.

On September 30, 1927, Babe Ruth became the first baseball player in US history to hit 60 home runs. His record would stand for 34 years, but it remains a historic moment in sports history.

Baseball player Roger Eugene Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota.  He went on to break Babe Ruth’s home run record – and his own record stood for over 35 years.

Baseball pitcher Walter “The Big Train” Johnson was born on November 6, 1887, in Humboldt, Kansas. Johnson’s family moved to Olinda, California in 1902. 

On May 2, 1908, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was submitted to the US Copyright Office.  Neither of the men involved in its creation had ever seen a baseball game.

On December 26, 1919, Babe Ruth was sold by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees, ushering in the long-standing superstitious Curse of the Bambino.

On November 4, 1955, baseball legend Cy Young died in Newcomerstown, Ohio.