Against which team did Ruth earn his first MLB pitching win?

Against which team did Ruth earn his first MLB pitching win? He defeated the Cleveland Naps.

Ruth made his major-league debut for the Boston Red Sox on July 11, 1914, at Fenway Park. The 19-year-old left-hander pitched seven innings in Boston’s 4–3 victory over Cleveland, earning the first MLB win of his career.

The Naps were named for player-manager Nap Lajoie, one of the era’s biggest stars. Cleveland’s lineup that day also included future Hall of Famer Tris Speaker and outfielder Shoeless Joe Jackson. Ruth allowed eight hits and three runs, but Boston held on for the victory.

A common mix-up is confusing Ruth’s first MLB win with his first professional win. He had already pitched in the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles before joining Boston. Another frequently overlooked detail is that Ruth was still primarily a pitcher when he entered the majors; his transformation into baseball’s defining slugger came later.