John Dale Sylvester, the seriously ill youngster...

John Dale Sylvester, the seriously ill youngster for whom Babe Ruth promised to hit a home run, then hit three in Game 4 of the 1926 World Series, has died in Mineola, N.Y., at 74.

According to his son, John D. Sylvester Jr., young Johnny was suffering from an infection of the forehead caused by a horse kick after he fell while riding at his family’s estate in Essex Fells, N.J. Most accounts said he was dying.