 |
| Click here to read the article in full size |
Six Inning Exhibition Game
Artillery Park - Wilkes-Barre, PA
Ninety years ago today, Babe Ruth made a guest appearance at an exhibition game at Artillery Park baseball field. At the time, it was the home field for the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the New York-Penn League. Since 1940, it has been leased by my alma mater Wilkes University and is presently the home field of the Wilkes Colonels.
The game took place less than 48 hours after the end of the 1926 World Series. Stars of the era frequently spent time during the off season barnstorming around the country and playing in local games. On this afternoon, The Babe played for Hughestown and went 0 - 2, but a shot that came off of his bat after the game is still remembered to this day.
Following the game, Ruth challenged Pittston native Ernie Corkran to throw his fastest pitch to him. He smacked the ball from Artillery Park to the running track at Kirby park. The ball landed an estimated 650 feet from where it was hit. It is considered by baseball historians to be the longest home run ever hit.
