Springfield Crowd Storms Field Before Yankees Tie Is Official
Babe Ruth brought a record crowd to Springfield in May 1926, but confusion reigned as fans stormed the field believing the Ponies had defeated the Yankees — only to learn later the game ended in a dramatic 10–10 tie.
Additional coverage of the Yankees May 27, 1926 exhibition vs Springfield
In This Edition
PITTSFIELD STOCK BOOSTED AS SPRINGFIELD TIED Babe Ruth & CO.
Coverage from The Berkshire Eagle - Pittsfield, MA - Friday May 28, 1926
Eight Thousand Fans Leave League Park at Springfield Thinking Hampdens Won Only to Learn Later Score Was a Tie — Ruth Thrills Crowd of 8000.
The Hillies are near the top of the baseball world. They defeated Springfield and the Ponies played a tie game with the Yankees who have won 16 consecutive games in the American league. Thus Manager Ball's men have risen from lowly ranks to near the pinnacle of fame in baseball. Nevertheless, Pittsfield will condescend to play Rube Marquard's Grays at Wahconah park today and tomorrow. Furthermore the rest of schedule will be played which means that "Bill" McCorry's Albany club that is travelling at a teriffic rate due to the addition of "Chick" Gagnon and Harry Hesse will be here Monday afternoon and The Hillies will play at Albany Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.
Albany defeated Providence yesterday 2 to 1 and Waterbury played a six-inning scoreless tie with New Haven, darkness calling a halt to play.
There must be morning practice for the official scorers at League park, Springfield, and the boys who take care of the scoreboard. Lack of team play sent a crowd of about 8000 home yesterday thinking that Springfield had turned back the Yankees 10 to 9 while the actual score was 10 to 10. The crowd believing that the scoreboard was in centerfield for a purpose considered the figures and thus rushed onto the field when the third Yankee was retired in the ninth. The writers apparently knew the score and possibly a few others did, but the situation was such that all hopes of clearing the field had to be abandoned and the game went down as a tie contest.
Of the 8000 persons at the game, 7999 went to see Babe Ruth and one went for the ride.
Babe played first base, the position he likes the best. He did not get a home run, but he secured one single and he sent up the highest fly of the day, one which made Joe Guts dizzy in trying to solve its downward course. Joe did not get close to the ball, but he pegged Ruth out as Babe did not run until the sphere reached the ground.
Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri did the hitting of home runs for the Yankees, but Ruth was the player whom the fans were watching and even when he made two errors which aided the scoring of three runs he provided thrills. He tried to field a ground ball with his thumb but failed and two runs went over on what should have been the final out. Those were the last two tallies made by Springfield.
Garland Braxton, former Springfield twirler, pitched well for the Yankees in the two innings which he worked, but Walter Beall, hurler, who was bought from Rochester at a fancy price, was wild hitting one man and passing six.
Merle Brown started on the peak for Springfield and was hammered during the six inning which he worked. It seemed like batting practice for the Yankees. Cummings, left hander, allowed the Yankees only one run in three innings. Outside of fielding miscues by Ruth and failure of Mike Gazella to do much in fielding balls that were hit hard near him, Manager Miller Huggins's men fielded well and gave a good exhibition of baseball.
The Hampdens staged an uphill fight and did well to draw up on even terms with the American league club.
Harry Purcell, former Hillie, turned in some fine catches and made two hits. Ben Bedford secured one hit, but struck out twice with men on bases.
YANKEES AND PONIES GET 10 RUNS APIECE
Coverage from the Boston Globe - May 28, 1926
Special Dispatch to the Globe
SPRINGFIELD, May 27—Babe Ruth and the Yankees drew the largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Springfield today when 7500 saw the American League leaders and Springfield of the Eastern League play a 10 to 10 tie. Ruth was not impressive at the bat, Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri stealing his thunder by hitting home runs over the left field wall. When the final Yankee was retired in the ninth the crowd rushed onto the field and the game was called without Springfield getting a chance to bat.
Before the game Ruth visited the Shriners' Home for crippled children and gave autographed baseballs to the young patients. He also visited a Parochial school. He was taken through the main street of the city and stopped traffic at one street corner.
The Yankees made 8 of their runs in the first four innings and then took things easy. Ruth played first base and Lou Gehrig right field and it was Babe's error on a ground ball that allowed Springfield to tie up the game in the eighth. The Yankees collected 17 hits off two Springfield pitchers.
The score:
Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 2 0 2 4 1 0 1 0 0--10 17 2
Springfield 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 2 --10 13 2
