In 1923, the year Yankee Stadium opened in the Bronx, Babe Ruth hit 47 home runs -- enough to win the major league home-run title that season -- but six of them were ruled foul balls under Major League Rule 48 which said that balls that cleared the fence in fair territory but landed foul were to be ruled foul. Additionally, balls that hit the foul pole, home runs by today's rule, were considered ground rule doubles.The rule was changed to its current form in 1930, according to Robert Weintraub in "The House That Ruth Built," but not before costing Ruth at least six home runs and the outright home-run title in 1923 (officially shared with Philadelphia's Cy Williams).
The House That Ruth Built
Babe Ruth
The Roster
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