SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 10, 2011 — Babe Ruth departed the Utah capitol on Feb. 2, a Wednesday, in 1927. He did so on a train headed for Los Angeles and a whirlwind filming session before the Florida spring training that would serve as the preamble to a season regarded as the Babe's finest and, even, the greatest by a team in baseball history.

As a team, the so-called "Murderers' Row" Yankees hit .307 with a .489 slugging percentage and chuckled their way through the American League schedule with a 110-44 record, one of the five best in baseball history. Their World Series opponent was similarly fated to all those American League foes. The Pittsburgh Pirates, owners of a fine 94-60 record that won them the National League, were simply outmatched and bowed out after a four-game sweep in the title series.

While Ruth knocked 60 balls out of parks throughout the American League and recorded a .356 average, it was the prowess of the men bookending him in the New York lineup that lifted those Yankees to such legend.

Earl Combes led off and swatted 231 hits, a team record that stood until Don Mattingly came along in 1986. Then there was Mark Koenig, a shortstop who hit .285 that year. Then Ruth, whose numbers paled only to those of the clean-up man, Lou Gehrig.

Gehrig, that Iron Horse, was responsible for 175 runs batted in, a tally made possible by his .373 consistency at the plate.

Then came the left fielder, Bob Meusel, whose .337 would lead the big leagues most modern years, but in '27 was only fourth best on his own team. Then, Tony Lazzeri — Our Tone — who provided power in the six hole, batting .309 with 18 home runs.

Those men were the principal ingredients in Murderers' Row, the most famed lineup in baseball history. They were supported by third baseman Joe Dugan and catcher Pat Collins, but the real meat and fame came in the first six batters' slots. —

1927 Yankees lineup

1. Earl Combes — CF

2. Mark Koenig — SS

3. Babe Ruth — RF

4. Lou Gehrig — 1B

5. Bob Meusel — LF

6. Tony Lazzeri — 2B

7. Joe Dugan — 3B

8. Pat Collins — C