By the way, for those that did not look at our "Today in baseball history" thread today, as Dead Simmons already alluded to earlier.... http://imageshack.com/a/img823/811/bvud.png A slim Babe Ruth in 1914, before the pinstripes Today marks the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth's Major League debut. On July 11, 1914, Babe Ruth made his first career start for the Boston Red Sox against the star-studded Cleveland Naps. Ruth threw seven innings, allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs on his way to his first career win. He also went 0-2 at the plate, and was even lifted for a pinch hitter, Duffy Lewis, late in the game.The Naps featured two of the game's greatest hitters, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, and Napolean Lajoie, who joined Cleveland in 1902. Lajoie was so beloved in Cleveland that the team adopted the nickname of the Naps in his honor starting in 1903. After the 1914 season, the team changed its nickname to the Indians. The Naps also featured another famous player at shortstop, Ray Chapman. Those that have studied baseball history will know that Chapman is the first and only baseball player to die from injuries sustained in a game. He was hit in the left temple by a Carl Mays fastball on August 16, 1920. He died the next day after suffering a fractured skull and hemorrhaging. After Chapman's death, the game itself saw several changes. The ball, which was allowed to remain in play no matter how dark it was, was to be replaced by a new ball whenever it became dirty. Interestingly enough, however, batting helmets were not required after Chapman's death. It wasn't until 1937 when Mickey Cochrane suffered a near-fatal fractured skull that two teams, Cleveland and Philadelphia began testing out batting helmets.