Babe Ruth’s Asheville belly ache remembered

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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It’s summertime, and that means baseball. And that means another recounting of the famous “belly ache heard ’round the world.” Here it is, from ESPN.com’s profile of Babe Ruth:

As Alex Rodriguez chases 600 home runs — and beyond — ESPNNewYork.com looks back at the seven sluggers in the 500 Home Run Club most associated with the Big Apple, either because they played their prime years with New York teams or hit No. 500 in a local uniform.

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Ruth’s career hit a low during the 1925 season. He was having problems at home with his marriage and spent the offseason eating and partying. When he arrived to Spring Training, Ruth was sick and out of shape. During a road trip in Asheville, N.C., Ruth collapsed. It was rumored that he had the flu and the headline claimed Ruth overindulged on soda and hot dogs. Ruth’s illness was dubbed “The Bellyache Heard ‘Round the World.” Ruth underwent an operation for an “intestinal abscess” and he missed the first part of the season while he recovered. Ruth played in only 98 games, hitting .290 with 25 home runs and 66 RBI as the Yankees finished in next-to-last place.