BABE RUTH CONSPIRACY? THE DUMBEST STORY OF THE DECADE

I never thought anyone would seriously need proof that Babe Ruth existed, but here we are.

Cubs All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong recently repeated the bizarre claim that Ruth may not have been real. On the podcast “Let’s Be Honest” Crow-Armstrong was referring to was a 2024 interview with Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo, in which Saucedo argued that because there are not many videos of Ruth playing baseball, he must not be real.

That might be the most ridiculous baseball theory in recent history.

It also perfectly represents a generation that gets most of its news from TikTok. If there is no high-definition video, alternate camera angle or 30-second clip with captions, apparently the event never happened.

Look, Babe Ruth played from 1914 through 1935. During most of his career, motion-picture cameras were bulky, expensive and mounted on tripods. Raw film stock was costly, and newsreel crews were not recording complete nine-inning games. They usually captured a few swings, pregame warmups, dugout footage or a home-run trot.

Regular live television broadcasting did not exist during Ruth’s prime. That is why limited footage survives—not because Ruth was some character invented by baseball historians.

The actual historical record is enormous. Ruth’s career was documented through official scorebooks, newspapers, photographs, contracts, eyewitness accounts and surviving newsreel footage.

And those records describe a player unlike anyone else.

Ruth began as an elite left-handed pitcher before becoming baseball’s greatest power hitter. He finished with 714 home runs, a .342 batting average, a record .690 slugging percentage and a 1.164 career OPS. In 1927, he hit 60 home runs. During certain seasons, Ruth personally out-homered entire major-league teams.

He did not simply dominate baseball. He changed its basic strategy, helping move the sport away from bunts, stolen bases and low-scoring “small ball” toward the power game fans recognize today.

Questioning history is healthy. Ignoring a mountain of historical evidence because there are not enough TikTok clips is not.

Babe Ruth existed Crow-Armstrong, don't be ridiculous. Critical thinking is one thing, but this is just stupid.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

VOLPE CAN'T GET IT RIGHT ON THE FIELD OR IN THE BATTER'S BOX!

There's just too much going wrong for the Yankees. The roster is a mess, the results aren't there and it just drives me crazy. Anthony Volpe is crumbling right before our eyes and Aaron Boone continues to sounds like a bumbling baboon. 

Look, I am tired of watching Volpe at shortstop. It's not working. I can understand the Yankees wanting to work with him and let him work through his struggles as a young, still developing infielder. At some point though, you have to realize it is hurting the team and it is time to make a change. Especially now, when the Yankees are struggling with everything.

Last game heading into the All-Star break, and the last thing I wanted to see was Vople make two blunders. The Cubs had a runner on second base in the seventh inning and two outs, Volpe got to a ground ball up the middle by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Volpe’s throw was wide to first and Seiya Suzuki came all the way around from second to score the Cubs’ fourth run. For me, the blunder in the eight inning was worse. He stayed back on a routine grounder (as we have seen before) and casually tossed the ball to second base and it allowed Dansby Swanson to beat the throw. Volpe admitted he should've been more aggressive. 

Volpe made a mistake, and as usual Baboonie had to coddle and defend Volpe.

I REALLY dislike this response. I'm not surprised by it because this is a typical Boone answer we've come to expect for years now. It just frustrates me more because we have to constantly be reminded of what is wrong and what isn't being fixed. Part of a manager's job is to problem solve - in any organization baseball or not. Volpe consistently backs up on routine ground balls and does not attack them with urgency. It's a consistent weakness that hurts this team without any action plan to correct it, so you aren't doing your job as a manager. What's it going to take for you to actually grow some huevos and be a manager?

I know Volpe is young and there will be highs and lows. Unfortunately, there are more lows than highs and as we head into the All-Star break he looks like he is regressing. He's not getting any better. He's had three seasons to piece it together so now it's you either got it.....or you don't.

Volpe doesn't have it....and four days off isn't going to fix him. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj