What Is Babe Ruth's Called Shot In Baseball?

The home run is one of the most exciting plays in baseball. When the ball leaves the stadium and the bases clear, there is an extra level of excitement that erupts through a baseball stadium. Have you ever wondered what one of the most well-known home runs in Major League Baseball history was? Read on to find out.

Babe Ruth’s Called Shot

Ruth’s called shot refers to a home run that the slugger “called” before hitting it. The called shot took place during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees. The game was played on October 1st, 1932 at the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field. During the top of the fifth inning, the game was tied, and Ruth was up at the plate. Earlier in the game he had hit a three-run home run, so the Cubs bench was chirping at Ruth, who made some gestures back towards the bench.

A few pitches into the at-bat, Ruth took two of his fingers and gestured towards the center-field bleachers. He swung at the next pitch, and the ball landed in the bleachers Ruth had pointed to just moments before, giving him two home runs on the day. Ruth later confirmed that he did in fact call where he was going to hit the home run, making it one of the most famous home runs in Major League Baseball.

The Debate

While there is no debate on the actual home run hit by Babe Ruth on that October day in 1932, there is controversy around the hand gesture he made prior to hitting the ball into the stands. While it is confirmed that the Chicago bench was riding Ruth during his fifth inning at bat, baseball fans have debated for years what exactly Ruth was pointing at during the at bat. Some argue that Ruth was pointing at the Cubs dugout, Charlie Root (the pitcher), or towards centerfield.

Film was uncovered in 1990 of the event and has been studied to determine what Ruth was gesturing towards. Since the film is from nearly 100 years ago, the footage is quite blurry, so it is difficult to determine now where he was pointing toward. Some spectators who attended the game, like Associate John Paul Stevens and public-address announcer Pat Pieper, have confirmed that Ruth did point over toward the center field stands, but Charlie Root denied Ruth pointing toward center field for the rest of his life. 

The Result of the 1932 World Series

The New York Yankees, who went 107-47 that year, ended up winning Game 3 of the 1932 World Series with a score of 7-5 as a result of Ruth and Lou Gehrig hitting two home-runs each, with Ruth’s called shot being the most notable of the four home runs that day. The Yankees went on to sweep the Cubs, winning the World Series in just four games, giving them their fourth World Series title.