Babe Ruth Hits Three Home Runs in a World Series Game

On October 6, 1926, Babe Ruth became the first player to hit three home runs in a single World Series game, powering the New York Yankees to a 10-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 at Sportsman's Park. The performance evened the Series at two games apiece and remains one of Ruth's most dominant postseason displays.

His first home run came in the opening inning off Cardinals starter Flint Rhem, a 395-foot shot that cleared the right-field bleacher roof. The second traveled over the roof in right-center field, a blast contemporary accounts estimated at well over 500 feet. The third, off reliever Hi Bell, sailed deep into the center-field bleachers, well beyond the 430-foot marker. Grover Cleveland Alexander, watching from the Cardinals dugout, later called it one of the longest home runs he had ever seen.

Ruth had hit 47 home runs during the regular season and carried his power into October without interruption. The Cardinals had no answer for him in Game 4. He walked twice in addition to his three home runs, reaching base in every plate appearance.

The Yankees could not sustain the momentum. St. Louis won Game 6 and took Game 7 on Grover Cleveland Alexander's legendary relief performance, when the 39-year-old struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and held the Yankees scoreless the rest of the way. The Series ended with Ruth getting caught stealing second base, one of the most puzzling baserunning decisions in postseason history.