October 23, 1923: Babe Ruth of the New York... Giants?

Babe Ruth (left) and John McGraw

October 23, 1923: Babe Ruth plays for the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds.

No, this is not an "alternate history" or "counterfactual" story, where he was signed by a different team. Or chose another sport and played football. It is one of the many quirks of actual baseball history.

McGraw had tried to get Ruth in 1914. He had seen Ruth pitch for his hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, against the Newark Indians. McGraw called Orioles owner Jack Dunn, and offered $5,000. Dunn turned him down, later accepting $8,500 from the Boston Red Sox.

In the meantime, Ruth had helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 1915, 1916 and 1918, move to the New York Yankees, and help them win American League Pennants in 1921 and 1922. But the way Ruth revolutionized the home run was taken by McGraw as a personal affront.

Like the man Ruth had replaced as baseball's greatest player, Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers, McGraw preferred what had come to be called "inside baseball" or "scientific baseball," what would be known today as "small ball": Get your runs any way you can, instead of getting somebody on base and then waiting for a home run.

McGraw made his point when the Giants won the National League Pennant in 1921 and 1922, by having his pitchers through Ruth nothing by off-speed pitches in the World Series. It was successful enough that the Giants won, both times. But the Yankees gained their revenge in the 1923 World Series, for their 1st World Championship, clinching in Game 6 at the Polo Grounds on October 15.

Just 8 days later, a benefit game was held at the Polo Grounds, for 2 destitute men who had been at the founding of the Giants, as the New York Gothams, in 1883: Original owner John B. Day, a tobacco magnate who had lost his fortune in the Players' League war of 1890; and original manager Jim Mutrie, who gave the team its permanent name in 1886, when he referred to his players as, "my big boys, my giants."

Ruth and McGraw swallowed their differences, despite being about to have their teams play each other in the World Series for the 3rd straight season. Ruth's Yankee teammates Aaron Ward and Elmer Smith also suited up for the Giants. The opponents were the champions of the International League, the Baltimore Orioles -- not just Ruth's 1st professional team, but the namesake of the National League team for whom McGraw played, winning Pennants in 1894, 1895 and 1896, and made his reputation as a rough but smart baseball man.

Ruth was 1 of 4 Giants who hit home runs, in his case a 5th-inning blast that soared over the right-field roof, as the Giants won, 9-3. It's not clear how much money was raised. Day, already ill with cancer, died a little over a year later, in early 1925. Mutrie lasted until 1938.

McGraw died in 1934, just before Ruth began his last season with the Yankees. Between playing and managing, McGraw was involved with 13 Pennant winners and won 3 World Series. Ruth died in 1948, having been with 10 Pennant winners and 7 World Series winners. Ruth was 1 of the 1st 5 players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, in 1936. The following year, McGraw and Connie Mack were the 1st 2 managers elected.

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October 23, 1923 was a Thursday. There were no other scores on this day: The baseball season was over, no football games were scheduled, professional basketball was strictly minor-league at this point, and the NHL season would not begin until December 15.