Going Going Gone

This weekend Babe Ruth made his debut for the Boston Red Sox in 1914.

Originally starting as a pitcher, the Babe’s hitting powered a change in the design of ballparks starting in the 1920s.

His powerful swing obliterated home run records. As a result, ballfields were forced to push back their fences, or increase their height, and recalculate outfield dimensions. Massive construction projects were undertaken to keep his hits from going, going, and being gone.

1923’s Yankee Stadium, the “House That Ruth Built,” was considered a modern marvel of a baseball venue. Built to hold the crowds that came to watch him play. And to showcase a right-field fence, which was designed to cater to the Babe’s left-handed hitting.

Pictured: Tahoe Fence slatted ballfield utilities enclosure in Wellington (Lyon County.) 2026