Friday, June 24, 2005

Ernie Shore - The Greatest Relief Pitching Ever

I recognize I'm a day late with this post's anniversary, but on June 23, 1917, baseball saw the greatest relief pitching performance ever. It's one of my favorite baseball stories.

Babe Ruth was pitching for the Red Sox versus the Washington Senators and walked the first batter, Eddie Foster. Ruth disagreed with umpire Brick Owens' strike zone and was promptly ejected from the game. Well, to be honest, he wasn't ejected so much for his arguing, but for punching the umpire in the face, earning him just a 10-day suspension and no fine (ahhh, those were the days).

Ernie Shore relieved Ruth of his pitching duties, and what a job he did.



During the next at-bat, Foster was thrown out at second trying to steal. All Shore did the rest of the way was retire the next 26 batters to finish a near perfect game.

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