When Babe Ruth Collapsed: The Asheville Train Station Incident

About this episode

The episode explores Babe Ruth's connections to North Carolina, including his collapse in Asheville and his final game in Fayetteville.

SEASON TWO PREMIERE | THIS WAS THEN, from the North Carolina Baseball Museum in Wilson, Todd McGee and Tim Peeler explore Babe Ruth's deep ties to North Carolina beyond his first pro home run in Fayetteville in 1914. They recount the 1925 "stomach ache heard 'round the world," when Ruth collapsed on an Asheville train platform during a Yankees barnstorming trip, was mistakenly reported dead, later underwent surgery in New York, and returned to play that season with reduced numbers before rebounding in 1926–27. Todd and Tim also describe Ruth's repeated hunting vacations at the exclusive Camp Bryan near New Bern and Havelock, his friendships and interactions with local families and kids, and his final North Carolina appearance in 1935—an exhibition in Fayetteville where NC State's Lefty Freeman struck him out as Ruth soon retired. They also connect Ruth to Ernie Shore's 1917 near-perfect game after Ruth's ejection.00:00 Welcome to the Museum00:32 First Homer in Fayetteville01:44 Bellyache Heard Round World02:31 Collapse in Asheville04:53 Surgery and 1925 Season06:12 Back on Top in 192706:41 Nude Press Conference07:28 Camp Bryan Hunting Escape10:44 Food Friends and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Todd McGee, Tim Peeler

Topics covered

• Babe Ruth
• North Carolina baseball history
• Yankees barnstorming
• sports injuries
• hunting vacations
• local legends

Keywords

• Babe Ruth
• Asheville
• Fayetteville
• North Carolina baseball
• sports history
• Yankees
• hunting
• Lefty Freeman

Sponsors

Amedeos

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: North Carolina Baseball Museum

Places: North Carolina, Fayetteville, Asheville, New York, Camp Bryan, New Bern, Havelock

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