Ruth's Last, Aaron's First

[BeansRDone]

I've got a question for you guys. I work as an official scorer for the Greenville Braves. In the press box, baseball discussions are always breaking out. Someone had a trivia question... but no trivia answer. Hopefully you guys know.

Yesterday was the anniversary of Hank Aaron's first homerun. Someone was on the field that day, that also was on the field for Babe Ruth's Last homerun. Who was this person?
Thanks

[Ferdinand Cesarano]

Hmm. The wording "on the field" makes me think it is a trick question -- that we are not talking about a player who was active for both games.

The facts:

Ruth's last HR: May 25, 1935 at Pittsburgh vs. Guy Bush

Aaron's first HR: April 23, 1954 at St. Louis vs. Vic Raschi

I was thinking that maybe a manager or coach of one of the teams in 1954 was a player in the 1935 game.

But, it isn't the managers. The 1954 Braves were managed by Charlie Grimm, who, back in 1935, was managing the Cubs; the Cards were led by 37-year-old Eddie Stanky, who had not yet made his Major League playing debut in 1935.

I don't know of any comprehensive list of coaches, so I cannot check that. It is certainly possible that one of the coaches for the 1954 Braves or Cardinals was a player or coach for the 1935 Braves or Pirates.

However, I think the best possibility is a long-time NL umpire whose career spanned 1935 and 1954.

Also, Macker's guess about the Braves' traveling secretary was a pretty good one -- but, as he indicated, the "on the field" requirement would make that (or any other Braves front-office personnel) a bit unlikely.

So, no definitive answer from me, but a guess that it will most likely be an umpire.

[dyf237]

Bump...anyone got the answer to this long unanserwed question?

[Trivia Guy]

Are you sure that they really meant "on the field" when it happened instead of just "active" in the big leagues?


Phil Cavarretta’s major league career was from 1935 to 1955 – making him the only player who was active during Babe Ruth’s last season (1935) and Hank Aaron’s first season (1954).

I had heard this many years ago and researched it last winter to make sure before including it in my self-publsihed trivia book.