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| Herb Pennock And Babe Ruth—1917 |
Today is the 122nd birthday of former Red Sox pitcher
Herb Pennock. His story highlights yet another blunder in Boston's dealings with its rival 250 miles to the south. After acquiring Pennock from the Philadelphia A's as a free agent, the lefty helped the Red Sox in eight solid seasons. He went 62-59 with a 3.67 ERA. He threw over 1,000 innings for
The Carmine Hose. Then, in 1923, Boston traded Pennock to the Yankees for
Norm McMillan,
George Murray,
Camp Skinner and (of course) $50,000. Gee, what do you think happened then? Well, Pennock went on to deliver
eleven stellar seasons in pinstripes—going 162-90 with a 3.54 ERA. In 1923, 1926, 1927 and 1932, he pitched in the World Series for those juggernaut New York teams. At the end of his career in 1934, he returned to the Red Sox mostly as a bullpen guy—but still logged a respectable 3.05 ERA. Just another sordid chapter in the transaction history of Boston and New York.
