Babe Ruth

Biography

Babe Ruth didn't just change baseball - he invented the modern version of it. Before Ruth, home runs were accidents; after him, they were the point. The 714 career homers came in an era when ballparks were cavernous and baseballs were dead. He hit more home runs in some seasons than entire teams managed. But he was also a dominant pitcher early in his career, winning 94 games with a 2.28 ERA. The personality matched the talent - the eating, drinking, womanizing, and childlike joy made him America's first sports celebrity. The called shot in the 1932 World Series may be apocryphal, but it fits the myth. The Bambino remains baseball's most enduring icon.

Career Highlights

• 7x World Series Champion
• 714 career home runs (3rd all-time)
• .342 career batting average
• First to hit 60 HRs in a season (1927)
• Also a dominant pitcher early in career

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