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Ruth’s 700th Home Run a 3 Million-to-20 Shot

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Fifty-four years ago today, Lenny Bielski earned an easy $20.

Bielski, a Detroit youngster, was on the sidewalk outside Navin Field’s right-field fence. Inside, 21,000 were on hand on a Saturday afternoon, hoping to see something that has happened only twice this century.

They hoped to see a major leaguer, Babe Ruth, hit his 700th home run.

Ruth hit it in the third inning, and Bielski emerged from a wild scramble with the ball.

Meanwhile, as Ruth left home plate to circle the bases, he began yelling: “I want that ball! I want that ball!”

Ushers were dispatched to find it. Bielski was brought into the park, given a twenty-dollar bill for the ball, and was permitted to watch the rest of the game from a box seat.

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Later, it came out that Bielski was stiffed. After Ruth’s 500th and 600th home runs, the New York Times reported, the ball catchers got $30 each.

And of course, one must wonder about Bielski’s net worth today had he kept the ball. Maybe he could have bought the Tigers.

Whatever, it was a landmark achievement in a career that had only 14 home runs left. At the time, Lou Gehrig and Rogers Hornsby were the only other major leaguers who had hit 300 home runs.

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Today, 83 have hit more than 300, and 15 have hit 500.

Also on this date: In 1963, Cleveland’s Early Wynn, 43, became the 14th pitcher to win 300 games. It was also his final major league win. . . . In 1954, nationally syndicated sportswriter Grantland Rice died at 73 of a stroke. . . . In 1996, Cigar, running wide and carrying 130 pounds, won the Arlington International for his 16th consecutive victory to tie Citation’s record.

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