Four score and ten years ago, the original man, myth, and legend, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, stepped into the batter’s box for the very last time. In a time when there was no internet, no social media, hell, there was no television, people would tune into the radio and read the newspaper, checking box scores from their favorite teams. This would allow the aura and mystique of a legend to run wild in a fan’s imagination. The Babe was a larger-than-life figure in sports. You would hear mythical tales, some fact, some fiction, but believable enough for the “Sultan of Swat.” He was so great that fans questioned his immortality.
Babe Ruth’s Remarkable Career
The “Great Bambino” (not that wimpy deer) played for what seemed like a lifetime, spanning over 22 years in the Major Leagues. Ruth started his career with the Boston Red Sox at the age of 19. The “original Shohei Ohtani” started as mainly a pitcher for the Sox and would post a 2.28 ERA in his six-year tenure with the team. He wouldn’t start being a regular bat in the lineup until the 1918 season. After winning three World Series Championships with Boston, the team thought they got the best out of the Babe. They traded the “Wizard of Whack” to the rival New York Yankees and the rest is history!
The New York Yankees welcomed Ruth with open arms. Though his pitching days were mostly behind him, the Bronx Bombers saw some other value in him. Putting Ruth in the lineup would pay dividends as he would go on to hit a Major League Baseball record at the time of 714 home runs, including 659 with the Yanks. In his first two seasons in New York, Ruth hit 113 home runs, making Boston instantly regret their decision. He was a part of the infamous “Murderer’s Row” with fellow Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig and would go on to win four more World Series.
The seven-time World Series Champion would end his career with the Boston Braves in 1935 at the age of 40. Father Time is undefeated and had finally caught up with the “Colossus of Clout.” His skills were slowly diminishing, forcing him to call it quits after 28 games. As he stepped into the left-handed batter’s box, dusted off his cleats, and pointed his bat towards the field, he was prepared for his final at-bat. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jim Bivin stared into the eyes of the legend. Trying to calm his nerves, he delivered the pitch to the “King of Crash.” Ruth grounded out in the infield, ultimately calling it a career!
Final Thoughts
There was something magical about certain athletes or historical figures before the internet and social media. Before people were so accessible, you would hear stories about these larger-than-life figures. The mystique of a guy like Babe Ruth was similar to Andre the Giant.” You had to see it to believe it. It took 100 years for a baseball player to come along in Shohei Ohtani to even be compared to the “Titan of Terror!” Thats how rare a player like Ruth was.
Ask Boston fans about the “Curse of the Bambino.” It took their franchise 86 years for the city to enjoy its first World Series since the Babe’s departure. It remains one of sports’ biggest “what ifs.” Whether he was calling his shot or visiting young ballplayers in their dreams, the legendary Babe Ruth is one of the most captivating figures in American history. As he said in the Sandlot, “Remember, kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart, kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”
