John Dale Sylvester (April 5, 1915 – January 8, 1990) was an American packing machinery company executive who was best known for a promise made to him byBabe Ruth during the1926 World Series, when Sylvester was seriously ill and hospitalized. Ruth said he would hit a home run on his behalf, which was followed by what was widely reported at the time as Sylvester's miraculous recovery.
Sylvester was born on April 5, 1915, inCaldwell, New Jersey. His father, Horace Clapp Sylvester Jr., was a banker who by 1926 was a vice president atNational City Bank and served as head of its municipal department. Sylvester grew up in Caldwell and moved with his family to a large house inEssex Fells, New Jersey, in 1921. At Essex Fells Grammar School, his baseball skills led to his nickname as the "Babe Ruth Kid" and he was a diehard fan of theNew York Yankees and its star player, Babe Ruth.[1]
While at a rented house on theJersey Shore inBay Head, New Jersey during the summer of 1926, Sylvester was horseback riding when he was thrown to the ground along with his horse, after the horse had stepped into a hole. The horse tried to stand up and kicked Sylvester in the head. The injury progressed over the summer and by September he had been diagnosed withosteomyelitis in his skull, a condition that is caused by an infection that leads to bone deterioration. Doctors thought that his condition could lead to his death.[1] The condition was only one of several that Sylvester was said to be ailing from at the time, which was also variously ascribed to a back problem,blood poisoning, a sinus condition, and either a spinal infection orspinal fusion. The confusion as to the condition affecting Sylvester has led to claims that the entire incident was a hoax.[2]
Urgent telegrams were sent to Ruth, who was then with the Yankees playing theSt. Louis Cardinals in the1926 World Series. It has been unclear if Sylvester initiated the request himself, or if it had been the idea of his father or uncle as an effort to lift his spirits. Ruth sent back from St. Louis a package that included two balls, one autographed by members of the Yankees and the other by players from the Cardinals.[3] Inscribed on the ball was a note from Ruth that read, "I'll knock a homer for you on Wednesday", referring to the forthcoming Game 4 of the series.[2]
After Ruth hit three home runs in Game 4 on October 6, newspapers reported that Sylvester's condition had improved. After the Yankees lost the series in seven games,The New York Times reported on how "'Dr.' Babe Ruth Calls On His Boy Patient", visiting Sylvester at his home in Essex Fells, with Sylvester telling Ruth "I'm sorry the Yanks lost".[2][4]
The incident was featured in the 1948biopicThe Babe Ruth Story, but the film took liberties with important facts. First, the film portrayed Ruth visiting Sylvester during the1932 World Series against theChicago Cubs rather than the 1926 World Series vs the Cardinals. Second, the film has Ruth visiting the Sylvester home inGary, Indiana, in person and shows Ruth in the boy's bedroom telling Johnny that he will hit a home run if Johnny hangs in there rather than sending autographed baseballs and a note to Johnny in New Jersey.[2] In the 1942 movieThe Pride of the Yankees,Gary Cooper portraysLou Gehrig, who promises a sick youth named Billy that he would hit two home runs at the World Series for the kid after Babe Ruth promised just one.[5] This two-story is repeated in the 1992 filmThe Babe.
While he was recovering from his illness, Sylvester also received an autographed football fromRed Grange[6] and an autographed tennis racket fromBill Tilden.[7]
Sylvester graduated fromPrinceton University in 1937 and later served in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II, where he reached the rank oflieutenant. He was the president of theLong Island City, Queens-based company Amscomatic Inc., which manufactured packing machinery.[2]
A resident ofGarden City, New York, Sylvester died at age 74 atWinthrop-University Hospital inMineola, New York on January 8, 1990.[2]
The documentary filmI'll Knock a Homer for You: The Timeless Story of Johnny Sylvester and Babe Ruth, made by Johnny’s nephew, Andrew Lilley, explores the story of Johnny and Babe in further detail and was recognized in 2013 by theGarden State Film Festival.[8]
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