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BABE RUTH
Babe Ruth was the most famous player in the history of baseball and is widely considered the greatest ever all-around player. His Major League Baseball (MLB) career total of 714 HR (home runs) held the all-time record for 39 years until 1974. Ruth’s career 0.690 SLG (slugging average) still commands the MLB record. SLG is determined by dividing total bases by at bats. Babe’s career 1.159 OPS (on base plus slugging average) is still a MLB record. OPS is determined by adding the hitter’s on base percentage (number of times a base is reached by any means divided by total plate appearances) to his slugging percentage (total bases divided by at bats.) Babe Ruth is the only player in history to have mastered both hitting and pitching. George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland on February 6, 1895 to parents who were saloonkeepers. George was left unsupervised most of the time and his behavior was wild. At age seven, his parents signed custody of him over to Catholic missionaries who ran a reformatory and orphanage, St. Mary’s Industrial School for boys. Young George was virtually abandoned by his family who rarely visited him. Xaverian Brother Matthias became a father figure for George and taught him how to play baseball. With Brother Matthias’ encouragement, he developed into an excellent player. In 1914, a St. Mary’s teacher brought George to the attention of Jack Dunn, the owner and manager of the Minor League Baltimore Orioles. Dunn signed Ruth and became his legal guardian to secure his release.
When the Oriole players saw 6' 2", 215 lb. George, they referred to him as Jack’s newest "babe." From then on, he was usually called Babe Ruth, particularly by the media. On July 9, 1914, Dunn sold Ruth, at the age of 19, to the American League Boston Red Sox. On October 17, 1914, Babe married waitress Helen Woodford; he and Helen adopted a daughter, Dorothy.
Babe Ruth started his career in Major League Baseball as a pitcher and was one of the most successful during his years with the Red Sox. He led the team to 94 wins, including 3 World Series games. Since pitchers do not play in every game, Babe was moved to the outfield in 1919 to take advantage of his powerful hitting. In 1920, owner Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth’s contract to the Yankees. Red Sox fans never forgave Frazee for selling their star; some blamed the sale for the Red Sox’ failure to win the World Series for 85 years. Their dry period became known as "the curse of the bambino." Babe Ruth’s rise from humble beginnings, along with his warmth, exuberance, and generosity, endeared him to baseball lovers. New York fans gave Babe several nicknames, including the Great Bambino and the Sultan of Swat. Ruth’s insatiable appetite for food, drink, and sex, along with his flamboyant lifestyle, personified Roaring Twenties' hedonism and materialism.
On April 18, 1923, the Yankees opened a new ballpark called Yankee Stadium; journalists and fans dubbed the ballpark "The House that Ruth Built." Babe hit the stadium’s first home run on opening day. On April 16, 1928, the Yankees became the first team to make numbers a permanent part of the uniform. Since Babe Ruth batted third in order, his number was 3.
Babe Ruth’s most famous play was in the 1932 World Series. In game 3 on October 1, he gestured to the centerfield bleachers while at bat to indicate where he was going to hit the ball; then he did just that. Babe Ruth led the Yankees to 7 American League pennants and 4 World Series championships.
The Yankees let Babe go at the end of the 1934 season because of his waning performance. He joined the National League Boston Braves in 1935. Ruth served as assistant manager while playing with the Braves, but was quickly released. Babe Ruth held 56 MLB records at the time; he retired as the all-time leader in home runs, runs batted in, slugging average, and walks. Due to his undisciplined reputation, Babe never realized his dream of managing the Yankees or any other team.
The Great Bambino's compassion led him to charitable involvement. He started the Babe Ruth Foundation for disadvantaged children. Ruth continued to visit orphanages and hospitals, as he had throughout the years, signing autographs for children.
In 1936, Babe Ruth was elected one of the 5 original members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In order of votes, he was second after Ty Cobb. On August 16, 1948, America’s favorite sports hero, Babe Ruth, died of throat cancer at the age of 53.
Bibliography Babe, Robert Creamer, Simon & Schuster, 1974 The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth, Leigh Montville, Doubleday, 2006
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