It was April 2, 1931. The New York Yankees were playing an exhibition game against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The first two batters got hits, so the Lookouts made a pitching change. They brought in a local named Jackie Mitchell- Miss Jackie Mitchell, the first woman ever to play in a modern pro game.
The first batter she had to face was Babe Ruth. She struck him out in four pitches, then she struck out Lou Gehrig in three pitches. It was an impressive debut for a rookie pitcher… but was it real or was it a publicity stunt? Mitchell insisted to her dying day that it was legit- and you can’t argue with record books!
Did you know...
That Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his baseball cap to keep cool during games.
Now you do!
The first batter she had to face was Babe Ruth. She struck him out in four pitches, then she struck out Lou Gehrig in three pitches. It was an impressive debut for a rookie pitcher… but was it real or was it a publicity stunt? Mitchell insisted to her dying day that it was legit- and you can’t argue with record books!
Did you know...
That Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his baseball cap to keep cool during games.
Now you do!
