The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Ruth’s called shot disputed

Middletown’s Charlie Root, who was pitching for the Cubs, is linked to the lore.

Mesoraco's slam sends Reds over Braves
7:38 a.m.
Lost chances cost Cougars
5/25/12
Badin advances to regional final
5/25/12
West hopes to keep winning
5/25/12
Is third time the charm for senior?
5/25/12
> More sports headlines

By John Bombatch, Staff Writer 11:31 PM Saturday, April 4, 2009

Before Roger Snell began doing research for his upcoming book “Root for the Cubs: Charlie Root & the 1929 Cubs,” he believed the story.

You know, the one where Hall of Fame slugger Babe Ruth supposedly called what would become his final career home run during the 1932 World Series?

While it’s true that Middletown-born pitcher Charlie Root of the Cubs had served up the fateful home run, his family and many others argue that there wasn’t a called shot by the Sultan of Swat at all.

Snell said researching the book changed his opinion of the famous called shot.

“Anyone who has heard of Charlie Root, well, you just accepted that he was the answer to a trivia question as the pitcher who gave up Ruth’s called shot, but it’s simply not true,” Snell said.

Aside from the compelling look into the 1929 Cubs team and how it earned its trip to the World Series, the book gives personal accounts from Ruth, Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett and Root dispelling the idea that the Mighty Bambino had called the home run three years later in the ’32 Series.

The fable has it that Ruth, with two strikes against him, pointed to the center field stands moments before hitting a solo home run off Root. Snell’s research suggests otherwise. And the daughter of Charlie Root, 90-year-old Della Root Arnold, definitely agrees.

“I haven’t seen the book yet, but I was there sitting in the stands about 50 yards away,” Della Root said. “If that big fat guy had pointed to center field, you’d think all of us would’ve seen it.”

First Last

Identification

Share this article