At 24 years old George Herman “Babe” Ruth escaped disaster in Connecticut before becoming one of baseball’s all-time greats. After setting a new major league home run record in his first year with the Yankees, Babe Ruth bought a brand new Packard Roadster for $12,000. On September 30, 1920, Ruth was driving from New York City to Springfield, Massachusetts, to play in an exhibition game. Halfway through his trip, Ruth crashed into a heavy Mack Truck while speeding through a tunnel, the Yalesville Culvert in Wallingford, Connecticut near the Meriden city line.

Ruth was thrown from the car but luckily walked away from the accident with only a few scratches. His Roadster was totaled, but the Great Bambino refused to miss his appearance and hitchhiked his way to Springfield. The very next day Ruth appeared in another exhibition game for a team called the Hartford Poli’s at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut. He played every position except pitcher and went 4 for 4 at the plate.