Few athletes have achieved the legendary status of Babe Ruth, who was adored by supporters and feared by opponents. All Nicknamed “The Babe”, Ruth played his entire career with a combination of power, skill, and grace that set him apart from his peers. As a member of the Hall of Fame, his legacy is secure, with baseball fans from all generations knowing why he was so revered. Here are all the great things about the Sultan of Swat and the baseball legend that is Babe Ruth.
Early Life & Career
George Herman Ruth, who would come to be known as the Babe, was born in 1895 in Baltimore. By the age of only six, he was living in a home for troubled children, St. Mary’s Industrial School. From an early age, it was clear Ruth was a gifted athlete and he signed with the Orioles in 1914. In a fortuitous move, Ruth was sold to the Boston Red Sox, and a star was born.
Ruth Truly Sets Himself Apart From The Rest
It quickly became apparent that Ruth was one of a kind, distinguishing himself from the rest. Ruth’s talents were so unusual that the Red Sox decided to use him as a pitcher, and he quickly managed to lead the team to the World Series title in 1918. During the 1919 season, Ruth established himself and his new team, the New York Yankees, as baseball royalty, smashing 29 home runs to set a new record.
The ‘Legendary Babe Ruth’
Babe Ruth’s fame exploded over the course of the 1920s and 30s. Indeed, he had become such an integral part of American culture that he was nicknamed the Sultan of Swat, the Bambino, and the Colossus of Clout by the media and fans alike. During this period, Ruth set Major League Baseball records that were virtually impossible to break, including hitting 60 home runs in 1927 and becoming the first-ever player to hit 500 home runs. By the time Ruth retired in 1935, he had 714 home runs and a lifetime batting average of .342.
Legacy
Throughout his life, Babe Ruth symbolized what many referred to as the “American Dream”. He not only took the baseball world by storm, but also achieved a level of fame that made him universally beloved by fans of all ages. While his record of 714 home runs has since been broken, his legacy lives on, as evidenced by the fact that so many baseball phrases and traditions still bear his name.
The List of Superlatives
Babe Ruth has a long list of accomplishments, which demonstrate why he’s considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time:
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He was the first player to hit more than 60 home runs in a single season, achieved in 1927.
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He hit 714 home runs during his career, a record that held for 39 years.
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He had a .342 lifetime batting average, significantly higher than the average player.
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He was a seven-time World Series champion and two-time MVP.
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He was the first-ever player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.
Babe Ruth is a living legend whose place in history is forever secure. His deeds on the baseball field will never be forgotten, and his popularity has endured the passing of decades. Baseball fans around the world still look to Ruth as one of the all-time best players, and rightly so. For all these reasons, they have rightfully hailed him as the Sultan of Swat, immortalizing Babe Ruth as baseball royalty.
