The 1926 New York Yankees were a great team. They won the American League Pennant with a record of 91 wins and 63 losses. They were lead by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It is interesting to look at current salaries for baseball players and the look at Ruth and Gehrig in 1926. Babe Ruth was paid $52,000 in 1926 and Lou Gehrig a mere $6,500.
The St. Louis Cardinals won the National League Pennant with a record of 89 wins and 65 losses. They were lead by Rogers Hornsby who was the manager and played second base. It was his only year as manager. He had a good year with a batting average of .317, hitting 11 home runs and 93 RBI's. The St. Louis Cardinals in 1926 were celebrating their 45th season in St. Louis and their 35th in the National League. They had one previous world championship in 1886 which preceeds modern day major league baseball. The 1926 World Series was the first meeting between the two teams that lead their respective leagues in World Series Championships. The Yankees have won 27 while the Cardinals lag far behind with 11.
The 1926 World Series opens in New York with the Yankees winning the opener 2-1 on October 2, 1926. Game two was played the following day with the Cardinals evening the series winning the game 6-2.
The teams then travel to St. Louis and play game three at Sportsman Park on October 5, 1926. Somehow the Cardinals manage to shut the powerful Yankees out winning by a score of 4-0. The teams play a game for the history books on October 6, 1926. The Yankees win the game by a score of 10 to 5 but history is written when Babe Ruth hits three home runs in a single world series game. A record he now shares with Reggie Jackson and Albert Pojols. Seems fascinating the three players who share the record played for the Yankees and the Cardinals when the feat was accomplished. Babe Ruth's home runs were as follows. In the first inning with two outs and no one on base a drive to deep right field. In the third inning again with no one on and two outs a drive to deep center field. In the sixth inning with one out and one on base another drive to deep center field. In addition Babe Ruth played left field and threw out Taylor Douthit at home plate. Don't feel sorry for Taylor Douthit as he managed assists from center field throwing out Tony Lazzeri at third base and Joe Dugan at home plate.
The teams meet again on Thursday, October 7, 1926 with the Yankees winning the game in 10 innings by a score of 3 to 2. The 10th inning for the Yankees went as follows. M. Koenig, single to left field. Babe Ruth at bat, wild pitch, Koenig to second. Ruth then receives a walk. B. Meusel, bunt groundout, sacrifice, Koenig to third, Ruth to second. Lou Gehrig is given an intentional walk. T. Lazzeri hits a sacrifice fly to deep left field, Koenig scores. M. Gazella is hit by a pitch, Ruth to third, Gehrig to second. Severeid pops out to second base to end the inning. You almost feel sorry for the pitcher having to face Ruth and Gehrig in the 10th inning with the game on the line.
The series returns to Yankee Stadium on October 9, 1926. The Cardinals open the game with a three run first inning and never trail in a game they win by a score of 10 to 2.
Game 7 is played in Yankee Stadium on October 10, 1926. There is nothing in sports more exciting than game seven of the World Series. The Yankees open the scoring in the bottom of the third inning scoring a single run on a home run by Babe Ruth. It would be his only hit of the day. He would be walked at all his other plate appearances. The Cardinals respond with 3 runs in the top of the 4th inning. The Yankees score a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The ninth inning proves interesting. The inning opens with two quick groundouts to third base. Babe Ruth comes to bat and draws a walk. Bob Meusel comes to bat and in an attempt to get into scoring position Babe Ruth is thrown out stealing second base. The tag applied by Rogers Hornsby and the Cardinals are World Series winners.
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