July 18, 1921 – Babe Ruth smacked a ball fair 560 feet for his 139th career home run against the Detroit Tigers. Tiger pitcher Bert Cole served up the ball to the Bambino who launched it over the deepest portion of the fence at Navin Field.
It was a significant hit indeed as with this 36 HR of the season for Ruth, he became the all-time home run leader in Major League Baseball, taking the title from Roger Connor whose 138 wall clearers stood as the mark since 1897. It was also by far the longest shot Babe Ruth had hit to that point in his MLB career.
The Yankees prevailed in the game 10-1. They would go on to take the AL pennant that year but lost the World Series to the New York Giants.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Sports History On This Day: May 19
May 19, 1973 – Riding perhaps the most famous racehorse of all time, Secretariat, jockey Ron
Sports History On This Day: May 18
May 18, 1912 – The Detroit Tigers organization was livid with the American League Baseball
Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers (The Team’s First Winning Season)
By 1946, when the Steelers played their 14th season, Pittsburgh’s NFL franchise had fielded
Sports History On This Day: May 17
May 17, 1927 – Here is a wild baseball game for you! Back on this
Dick the Bruiser: The Story of “The World’s Most Dangerous Wrestler”
Dick the Bruiser was a force to be reckoned with in and out of
Sports History On This Day: May 16
May 16, 1976 – The Montreal Canadiens win game four to sweep the Stanley Cup
Sports History On This Day: May 15
May 15, 1953 – Legendary boxer Rocky Marciano stepped into the ring in defense of
Sports History On This Day: May 14
May 14, 1913 – Washington Senator pitcher Walter Johnson, had his amazing MLB record of scoreless innings