- Babe Ruth originally broke into the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox as a starting pitcher, but after he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1919, he converted to a full-time right fielder and subsequently became one of the league's most prolific hitters.
- Babe Ruth was a mainstay in the Yankees' lineup that won seven pennants and four World Series titles during his tenure with the team.
- After a short stint with the Boston Braves in 1935, Babe Ruth retired.
- In 1936, Babe Ruth became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Babe Ruth has since become regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture.
- Babe Ruth has been named the greatest baseball player in history in various surveys and rankings, and his home run hitting prowess and charismatic personality made him a larger than life figure in the "Roaring Twenties".
- Off the field Babe Ruth was famous for his charity, but also was noted for his often reckless lifestyle.
- Babe Ruth is credited with changing baseball itself. The popularity of the game exploded in the 1920s, largely due to his influence.
- Babe Ruth ushered in the "live-ball era," as his big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only excited fans, but helped baseball evolve from a low-scoring, speed-dominated game to a high-scoring power game.
- In 1998, The Sporting News ranked Babe Ruth number one on the list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players." In 1999, baseball fans named Babe Ruth to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
- In 1969, he was named baseball's Greatest Player Ever in a ballot commemorating the 100th anniversary of professional baseball.
- In 1993, the Associated Press reported that Babe Ruth was tied with Muhammad Ali as the most recognized athletes, out of 1000, in America.
- According to ESPN, he was the first true American sports celebrity superstar whose fame transcended baseball.
- In a 1999 ESPN poll, Babe Ruth was ranked as the third-greatest US athlete of the century, behind Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali.
- Babe was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season (1927), setting the season record which stood until broken by Roger Maris in 1961.
- Babe's lifetime total of 714 home runs at his retirement in 1935 was a record, until first surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974.
Go back to search results