I understand that some of Babe Ruth's 714 home runs bounced from the outfield and then into the stands but at the time that he played, these hits were ruled as home runs; where as today they are counted as ground rule doubles.
Does anyone know if this is true and if so, how many of his home runs happened this way.
Thank You!
2007-07-25 22:50:20 · 7 answers · asked by DH 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
It is true that at one time a ground rule double was considered a homerun, and at one time walks were considered hits. However, all of this occurred before 1900 and, for the most part, did not affect the modern day numbers of players like Ruth and Cobb. Actually, there was a rule in place for a short period of time where the game was over when the winning run scored and players were not given homeruns if the winning run was on base before the hitter scored on a homerun, this happened to Ruth on one occasion.
2007-07-26 00:14:10 · answer #1 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Frizzer has it. Actually, if you look at Ruth's record, he has a LOT of triples (over 100) and so inside-the-park homers are not out of the question. People keep forgetting that Ruth was solid muscle until toward the END of his career. He could motor with a lot of people. I don't know how many inside-the-park homers he had, but they were the Ichiro kind -- touch 'em all. Frizzer's research is right.
Now, one rule change that DID occur to affect Ruth's total works against him. Until 1920 there were no walk off homers as we have today. If you were down 1-0 and the bases were full and your batter hit a grand slam, he was given credit for a single. The game was considered over the instant that the runner on third touched home. Ruth was denied a 3-run homer by this rule. His total SHOULD be 715.
2007-07-26 06:50:52 · answer #2 · answered by Sarrafzedehkhoee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're going to note that prior to 1930 ground rule doubles were actually home runs, it's also necessary to note that the field dimensions were FAR GREATER than in today's ballparks.
For example:
The outfield dimensions of the Polo Grounds (Where the Yankees played until 1922) were LF - 277, Left Center, Right of Bullpen - 455, Front of Clubhouse Steps - 460, Center Field - 433, Right Center, Left of Bullpen - 449, Right Center, Right of Bullpen - 440, Right field 256. All fences were at least 10' high which makes it kind of hard to bounce over. Also it should be noted that from each foul pole it went almost straight out to the deep corners (Kind of like Fenway's Right Field).
By today's comparison of Yankee Stadium:
LF - 318, LC - 379, CF - 408, RC - 353, RF - 314. All fences are shorter also.
Bottom Line:
If you're going to look at the hitters of the past and the changes in the rules that have occured, it's also important to look at how the scope of the atmosphere has changed too (Ballpark, equipment, etc...).
2007-07-26 01:06:10 · answer #3 · answered by GPC 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of Babe Ruth's 714 career home runs, 10 were of the inside-the-park variety. .... until the league said one bounce and then into the stands = a double. ...
704 of his home runs were out of the ball park
2007-07-25 23:01:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny how they never mentioned that ground rule doubles were counted as home runs.
2007-07-25 23:18:19 · answer #5 · answered by dj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am not sure but i think the ones that bounced in the outfield and then to the stands i think were home runs
2007-07-25 22:55:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dimensions of stadiums were far greater than what they are in todays ballparks
2007-07-26 02:05:17 · answer #7 · answered by Victor A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋