A tradition born with Babe Ruth looking on makes its way to the Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic

It’s been 107 years since a squadron of 60 biplanes flew over the opening game of the 1918 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

The 15th edition of the World Series was the finale of a season cut short by the entrance of the United States into World War I in April of 1917 and a display of military pride served multiple purposes.

It instilled in the 19,274 people in attendance a sense of patriotism and it displayed the might of the United States Military powers at a time when the world was facing an uncertain horizon.  

Babe Ruth -- The Colossus of Clout, the Sultan of Swat, the Behemoth of Bust. The. Great. Bambinooooo -- was the winning pitcher of that opening game, holding the Cubs scoreless for a 1-0 victory. And despite Ruth’s notoriety for hitting towering home runs, the 1918 series was the last in MLB history which did not feature a dinger.

The Red Sox went on to win the championship 4-2 against the Cubbies, marking the last World Series victory by the Red Sox in the 20th century.

In the century since, military flyovers have become standard practice for many sporting events – and they have grown in popularity – and meaning -- exponentially since the September 11th attacks 24 years ago, which is ironically the same date the Red Sox clinched the World Series with a 2-1 victory on the 11th of September in 1918.

And for the first time in its 34-year history, the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic will open the high school football season with its own military flyover.

“It is going to be very exciting,” said Kell Athletic Director Oneisha Young. “I think it is going to be epic, for a high school game and one of the first of the season in the country, I think it will mean a lot to a lot of people.”

The Georgia National Guard will deploy a pair of UH-60 Blackhawks to traverse the Kell football field at the conclusion of the National Anthem before kickoff of the 8 p.m. game between host Kell and visiting South Paulding.

Additionally, the game ball will be delivered to the field in a High Mobile Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, otherwise known as a Humvee.

“If you come from a military background or not, just knowing what is going on in our country and so forth around the world, I think it is important,” Young said. “And it is going to get the kids hyped up to play the game and we are looking forward to it.”

To purchase tickets to any of the 11 Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic games, visit the Corky Kell website.

‍