Organized Baseball

ORGANIZED BASEBALL around the world recognized Babe Ruth as the game’s greatest living player on a Sunday afternoon in 1947. The ceremonies centered at Yankee Stadium, often called “the House That Ruth Built.”

More than 58,000 fans filled the legendary facility where Ruth led the Bronx Bombers to four world championships from 1920 to 1934. Cardinal Francis Spellman prayed to open the pregame ceremonies that were broadcast to every major and minor league baseball stadium in the United States. The commissioner of baseball, along with the presidents of the American and National Leagues, made brief remarks before turning the microphone over to the Babe.

With his voice rasping due to throat cancer, Ruth spoke only a few words. He thanked those in attendance and said how much baseball meant to him and to the youth of America. Babe then retired to a box seat and watched the game.

When Ruth came to the Yankees from the Boston Red Sox in 1920, the team’s attendance soared. A year later, the Yankees bought land in the Bronx to build their own stadium (they had been sharing the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants). Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923, as baseball’s first triple-decked structure.

From its opening to the end of the 2003 season, Yankee Stadium has hosted 33 World Series and has witnessed the home team claim 26 world titles.

EXTRA < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

POINT Sometimes one athlete causes so much interest that he or she becomes almost bigger than the game. Babe Ruth did for the Yankees and Major League Baseball in the 1920s what Michael Jordan did for basketball and what Tiger Woods has done for golf in recent years.

Because of Ruth’s tremendous skill and popularity, the Yankees built Yankee Stadium. The ballpark known as “the House That Ruth Built” has come to also be known as “the Home of Champions” because of all the world titles the Yankees have won.

As Christians we have the opportunity to go to “the Home of the Champion” every week. Jesus’ victory over death makes him the greatest winner of all time. And all over the world, we can go into his “stadium”—the church—to worship and cheer for him.

GOAL! Plan to attend a church service this week. Think about the holiness of God’s house. Praise him that he’s in our midst whenever we get together with other Christians to worship him.