Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth Birthplace

BabeRuthSr2

Error creating thumbnail:

1914 Babe Ruth baseball card 02

Babe Ruth Boston pitching

Error creating thumbnail:

1914 Providence Grays with Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), born George Herman Ruth Jr., was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 to 1935. Known as "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat," Ruth established many MLB batting (and some pitching) records, including career home runs (714), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164); the latter two still stand as of this writing. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time.

Early Life

Ruth was born in Baltimore, Maryland to George Herman Ruth, Sr. and Katherine Schamberger. He was one of eight children, but only he and his sister Mamie survived to adulthood. Ruth's parents owned a series of saloons, but they were not prosperous, leading to a difficult childhood for Ruth, who was eventually sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory and orphanage, at the age of seven. It was at St. Mary's that Ruth was introduced to baseball.

Baseball Career

Baltimore Orioles

Ruth began his professional career as a left-handed pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, a minor league team in the International League, before being sold to the Boston Red Sox in 1914. Over his time with the Red Sox, Ruth helped the team win three World Series titles in 1915, 1916, and 1918.

Boston Red Sox

While with the Red Sox, Ruth's pitching prowess was evident, but his batting ability soon overshadowed his pitching. He transitioned to a full-time outfielder and became one of the league's premier hitters.

New York Yankees

In 1919, Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees, an event that changed the course of baseball history. With the Yankees, Ruth's legendary hitting power came to full fruition. He led the team to seven American League pennants and four World Series titles. Ruth's charismatic personality and unprecedented feats of power drew large crowds, contributing significantly to the popularity of baseball during the 1920s.

Legacy

Ruth's impact on baseball and American sports cannot be overstated. He was a key figure in the first live radio broadcast of a baseball game, and his pursuit of the home run record in 1927 captivated the nation. Ruth was one of the first five inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

Beyond his statistical achievements, Ruth is credited with changing the nature of baseball, from a strategy-driven game to one focused on power and individual achievement. His larger-than-life persona and generous nature endeared him to fans, while his ability to draw crowds helped solidify baseball's place as the national pastime.

Death

Ruth died of cancer on August 16, 1948, in New York City. His body lay in state at the Yankee Stadium and was viewed by tens of thousands of fans. He was buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

See Also

• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career batting average leaders
• History of the New York Yankees
• History of the Boston Red Sox