Thursday, 21 November 2024
Babe Ruth
- Babe Ruth was not the first star in Baseball, but he was the first man of the game who transcended the sport. "The Sultan of Swat" began his career as a Pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, but as the 1910s closed, he transitioned into the game's first great power hitter, though for the New York Yankees, who purchased his contract from Boston.
Ruth almost single-handedly ushered in the live-ball era, becoming the game’s premier power hitter. He set the single-season Home Run record (60) and all-time home run record (714), and while both have since been broken, his hitting prowess is still considered legendary.
The popularity of Babe Ruth was unlike anything an athlete had seen before. He was the biggest star on the biggest team in the biggest sport. Arguably, the first true "celebrity athlete," his ability was so great that his last name became an adjective, as in a player's accomplishments can be described as "Ruthian." How many people can say that?
Babe Ruth arguably was sports in the 1920s and for many in the first half of the 20th century. With all due respect to every other athlete, no other American had his impact on iconoclasts' growth in sports.
We are proud to nominate Babe Ruth for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
Additional Info
- Sport: Baseball
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Statistics:
7 World Series Championships (1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928 & 1932)
1 MVP (1923)
2 All-Star Games (1933 & 1934)
1 Batting Title (1924)
12 Home Run Titles (1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 & 1931)
6 RBI Titles (1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1926 & 1929)
.342 Batting Average
2,873 Hits
714 Home Runs
2,213 Runs Batted In
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Number retired by the New York Yankees
Named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team
Named to the Major League Baseball All-Time Team
Published in
Athletes
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