How's your Knowledge of Yankee History?

Did you know that the New York Yankees were referred to as ‘Murderers’ Row’ before Babe Ruth was traded to the team in 1920? Sportswriter Fred Lieb used the phrase in the spring of 1918, talking about the slugging infield of Pipp, Pratt, Peck, and Baker. That was Wally Pipp at first base, Del Pratt at second base, Roger Peckinpaugh at shortstop, and Frank ‘Home Run’ Baker at third base.
Lieb sometimes included newly acquired outfielder Ping Bodie in this group. On June 23, 1918, Lieb called them “the greatest collection of pitcher thumpers in baseball today” (The Sun, New York).

The Yankees hit 20 home runs that year, near the end of baseball’s Deadball Era. The last-place Philadelphia Athletics led the American League in home runs in 1918 with 22, led by the 11 of Tilly Walker and the 6 of Tioga George Burns. Babe Ruth also hit 11 that year, and his Red Sox totaled 15.