Or that he almost doubled up again the following year as a full-time outfielder for the Yankees, hitting an unheard-of 54. Or that, the following year, he shattered the 35-year-old record for homers in a season with 29 while playing in just 130 games. But not everyone knows that in 1918 as a part-time right fielder, part-time pitcher, Ruth led the American League in homers, with 11, in just 95 games. Member of first Hall of Fame class (1936)Įveryone knows about the career total for home runs and the magic 60-homer season in 1927.Set record (since broken) for consecutive scoreless innings pitched in World Series (29.7).Set record for home runs in a season (29), then broke it three more times (54, 59 and 60).Career Home Runs: 714 (the most in MLB history when he retired, now third most).Hitting and pitching changed in the decade where he did his best work and his presence indelibly shaped that change. His international celebrity brought new and wide-ranging attention to the sport.īut most importantly, he led the vanguard of ballplayers out of the Dead-Ball Era and into the Live-Ball Era. He was a larger-than-life figure, a true superstar persona perfectly crafted for the Roaring Twenties. It can hardly be overstated how much of an impact the Bambino had on the sport of baseball. Ruth arrived just as the game was changing, moving from small-ball to the home run era and Ruth led the hitting parade. Not Wilt Chamberlain in basketball, not Wayne Gretzky in hockey, not Pele in soccer. In fact, you could make a strong case that he dominated his sport in a way that no other athlete in any other sport has ever done. was the most dominant player in the history of baseball. But to be honest, I'm not sure why there's any kind of debate since there is only one answer: Babe Ruth.
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