Babe Ruth is widely regarded as the greatest baseball player of all time. This comprehensive biography covers his early life, career, and legacy. Learn about Ruth’s incredible rise to stardom, his impact on the game of baseball, and how he became a national icon.
Babe Ruth Biography
Babe Ruth (born George Herman Ruth Jr.; February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”, he began his MLB career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. 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.
Babe Ruth Biography
Early life and career
Ruth was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 6, 1895. He grew up in a poor neighborhood and had a difficult childhood. His father was not involved in his life, and his mother struggled to support him. Ruth found solace in baseball, and he quickly developed into one of the best players in the city.
At the age of seven, Ruth was sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory school. He spent six years at St. Mary’s, where he learned to play baseball and other sports. He also developed his signature batting stance and swing.
Babe Ruth Biography
In 1914, Ruth signed with the Baltimore Orioles, a minor league baseball team. He played for the Orioles for one season before being purchased by the Boston Red Sox.
Ruth made his MLB debut with the Red Sox on July 11, 1914. He pitched in four games for the Red Sox in 1914, winning one game and losing two.
In 1915, Ruth became a full-time member of the Red Sox rotation. He won 18 games and lost eight games, with a 2.44 earned run average (ERA). Ruth also began to show his power at the bat, hitting 10 home runs in 1915.
In 1916, Ruth won 23 games and lost 12 games, with a 2.70 ERA. He also hit 11 home runs. Ruth helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 1916, pitching a complete game shutout in Game 7.
In 1917, Ruth won 24 games and lost 13 games, with a 2.22 ERA. He also hit 11 home runs. Ruth helped the Red Sox win the World Series again in 1917, pitching two complete game victories.
Babe Ruth Biography
Transition to full-time outfielder
In 1918, Ruth was called to serve in the United States Army during World War I. He missed the entire 1918 season.
After returning from the Army in 1919, Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees. The Yankees were looking for a way to improve their offense, and they believed that Ruth’s power at the plate could help them win the World Series.
Ruth began the 1919 season as a pitcher, but he was quickly moved to the outfield full-time. Ruth hit 29 home runs in 1919, which was a single-season record at the time. The Yankees also won the World Series in 1919.
Babe Ruth Biography
Rise to stardom
In 1920, Ruth hit 54 home runs, which was another single-season record. The Yankees also won the World Series in 1920.
Ruth became a national sensation in 1920. He was one of the first athletes to be endorsed by major corporations. He also starred in a number of movies and television shows.
Babe Ruth Biography
Ruth continued to hit home runs at a prodigious rate in the early 1920s. He hit 59 home runs in 1921 and 41 home runs in 1922. He also helped the Yankees win the World Series in 1921 and 1922.
In 1927, Ruth set the single-season home run record with 60 home runs. This record stood for 34 years, until it was broken by Roger Maris in 1961.
Ruth continued to play for the Yankees until 1934. He was sold to the Boston Braves in 1935, and he retired from baseball after the 1935 season.
Babe Ruth Biography
Legacy
Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Ruth is also the subject of numerous books, movies, and television shows.
Ruth’s impact on the game of baseball
Babe Ruth Biography
Read More