Johnny Sylvester

John Dale Sylvester (April 5, 1915 – January 8, 1990) was an American packaging machinery company executive who was best known for a promise made to him as a child by Babe Ruth during the 1926 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.

Early life Sylvester was born on April 5, 1915, in Caldwell, New Jersey. His father, Horace Clapp Sylvester Jr., was a banker who by 1926 was a vice president at National City Bank and served as head of its municipal department. Sylvester grew up in Caldwell and moved with his family to a large house in Essex 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 the New York Yankees and its star player, Babe Ruth.

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 or spinal fusion. The confusion as to the condition affecting Sylvester has led to claims that the entire incident was a hoax. 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.

The incident was featured in the 1948 biopic The Babe Ruth Story, but the film took liberties with important facts. First, the film portrayed Ruth visiting Sylvester during the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs rather than the 1926 World Series vs the Cardinals. Second, the film has Ruth visiting the Sylvester home in Gary, 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. This two-story is repeated in the 1992 film The Babe.

While he was recovering from his illness, Sylvester also received an autographed football from Red Grange and an autographed tennis racket from Bill Tilden.

Later life In 1937, Sylvester graduated from Princeton University. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, where he reached the rank of lieutenant. He was the president of the Long Island City, Queens-based company Amscomatic Inc., which manufactured packaging machinery.

A resident of Garden City, New York, Sylvester died at age 74 at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York on January 8, 1990.