Second thoughts

Babe Ruth may have had something else on his mind when he famously “called” his home run against the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. Former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens, who attended the game as a 12-year-old with his father, said he thought Ruth was gesturing toward Cubs pitcher Guy Bush.
Babe Ruth may have had something else on his mind when he famously “called” his home run against the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. Former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens, who attended the game as a 12-year-old with his father, said he thought Ruth was gesturing toward Cubs pitcher Guy Bush.

Babe’s call not what we thought?

Like everyone else under the age of 106, John Paul Stevens wasn’t yet born the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. But the retired Supreme Court justice did see the single most famous moment at Wrigley Field that may or may not have happened, or if it happened, it may not have meant exactly what people think it did.

Stevens was 12 when his dad took him to Game 3 of the 1932 World Series between the Cubs and the New York Yankees. His seat behind third base was close enough for him to see that Ruth and Cubs pitcher Guy Bush were really jawing at each other whenever Ruth came to bat. It seems that the Yankees were steamed when they heard the Cubs had voted a former Yankee on the roster only a half-share of the World Series money.

“The Yankees regarded the Cubs as cheapskates,” Stevens said.

Not that the future justice knew any of this, or could hear exactly what the two were yelling at each.

“I didn’t know what the reason was for it, but I remember … they were going back and forth,” he said.

Ruth homered in the first inning and when he came up in the fifth, he’d apparently had it with Bush.

“He did point the bat in the direction of the center field bleachers as everybody describes,” Stevens said.

The next day, the buzz was that Ruth had called his second home run.

Stevens isn’t so sure. He had the distinct impression Ruth was talking about hitting something besides a baseball.

“I remember thinking [it meant] he was going to knock Bush to the moon,” Stevens said.

The return of Joe

With one Joe Paterno statue in storage, fans of the late Penn State football coach are commissioning a new one to be placed across from the university.

A State College, Pa., restaurant owner said he’s interested in having the new statue put in front of his establishment.

Penn State spokesman Lisa Powers said the school isn’t involved in the plan. In 2012, the school removed a Paterno statue outside its football stadium. That happened after a university-commissioned report accused the late coach and three administrators of concealing sex abuse claims against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Organizers said the new statue will feature Paterno sitting on a bench reading. It’s expected to cost about $300,000. They hope it will be done in 2015 by Philadelphia sculptor Zenos Frudakis.

Nothing doing

Tom Sherrill of Pomona, Calif., a 29-year-old Los Angeles Angels fan and a staff sergeant in the Air Force, caught Albert Pujols’ 500th career home run Tuesday night.

And what did he want from the Los Angeles Angels in return for handing it over?

Nothing.

“I’ll take whatever they want to give me, but I’m not going to be picky. … I’m just happy to be a part of it,” Sherrill told Angels broadcasters Victor Rojas and Mark Gubicza on Fox Sports West.

Sherrill got at least some swag.

He received an Angels cap, and Gubicza and Rojas said they’d give him four tickets to any game he wanted.

Quote of the day

“We’re 20,000 times better than where we were last year at this point.” Arkansas assistant coach Michael Smith on the Razorbacks’ receivers

Sports, Pages 18 on 04/24/2014

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