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New York Yankees: Top 5 worst moments in team history

By Michael Pallas

4 Nov 2001: Craig Counsell #4, Luis Gonzalez #20, Curt Schilling #38 and David Dellucci #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate defeating the New York Yankees to win game seven of the Major League Baseball World Series at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT
4 Nov 2001: Craig Counsell #4, Luis Gonzalez #20, Curt Schilling #38 and David Dellucci #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate defeating the New York Yankees to win game seven of the Major League Baseball World Series at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT /
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circa 1935: Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, 1895 – 1948) American professional baseball player signs a new two year contract with the ‘New York Yankees’. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)
circa 1935: Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, 1895 – 1948) American professional baseball player signs a new two year contract with the ‘New York Yankees’. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images) /

4. Babe Ruth’s base running gaff

First, imagine the Sultan of Swat attempting to steal a base. The reason many Yankee fans can’t imagine it is because 1. he was known for home runs and 2. he only attempted 247 steals in his career in the regular season and World Series combined.

That said, his worst attempt came in the World Series, and it actually cost the Yankees a chance to win the World Series. That’s right, the man most Yankee fans probably thought could do no wrong cost the Yankees a World Series title, which means they could have 28 instead of 27.

Let’s face it, Babe Ruth did a lot of good in his World Series career. He was 3-0, with a 0.87 ERA and a shutout, hit .326/.470/.744 with 15 home runs and 33 RBI. However, he did have one huge blunder on the basepaths in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1926 World Series.

Ruth had just gotten a single with the Yankees trailing 3-2. Bob Meusel (who hit .315 that season) was at the plate. Ruth tried to steal second and was caught stealing by Cardinals catcher Bob O’Farrell. It not only ended the game but the series. Had the Yankees won, it would have been the first of three straight, because they’d go on to win in 1927 and 1928.

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