Before Babe Ruth, home runs were a rarity. By the time he was finished he had hit 714 of them, transformed baseball into a game of power and become the first true superstar of American sport.
The Bambino, the Sultan of Swat, the man in the Yankees' number 3: here is his story, with our favourite designs from the baseball collection.
Babe Ruth Fact File
| Full name | George Herman Ruth Jr. |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 February 1895 |
| Place of birth | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Died | 16 August 1948, New York City (aged 53) |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Position | Outfielder and pitcher (bats left, throws left) |
| Nationality | American |
| Teams | Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Braves |
| Shirt number | 3 (retired by the Yankees) |
| Nickname | The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Home runs | Batting avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914-1919 | Boston Red Sox | 391 | 49 | .308 |
| 1920-1934 | New York Yankees | 2,084 | 659 | .349 |
| 1935 | Boston Braves | 28 | 6 | .181 |
| Career | - | 2,503 | 714 | .342 |
Regular-season batting figures from Baseball-Reference. As a pitcher he also went 94-46 with a 2.28 ERA.
Early Years: Baltimore and St. Mary's
Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys in Baltimore aged seven and spent much of the next 12 years there, where Brother Matthias became his mentor and taught him the game.
In 1914 he signed with Jack Dunn's minor-league Baltimore Orioles, who sold him to the Boston Red Sox that July.
Start with the Boston years and our Babe Ruth Red Sox Badge Men's T-Shirt, from the Boston Red Sox collection.
Breakthrough: Boston's Ace Turned Slugger
Ruth was first a brilliant left-handed pitcher, helping the Red Sox win the World Series in 1915, 1916 and 1918. Moving to the outfield, he hit a record 29 home runs in 1919.
On 26 December 1919 Boston sold him to the New York Yankees for $100,000, a then-record fee and the start of the legend of the 'Curse of the Bambino'.
Pin your colours to the mast with our Babe Ruth Yankees Baseball Icon Frame Men's Hoodie, part of the New York Yankees collection.
Peak: The Yankees and 60 in 1927
In New York he redefined the game, hitting 54 home runs in 1920 and 59 in 1921. In 1927, with the famous Murderers' Row line-up, he hit 60, the 60th coming off Tom Zachary on 30 September. The record stood for 34 years.
The Yankees won four World Series with Ruth (1923, 1927, 1928 and 1932). In Game 3 of the 1932 Series at Wrigley Field came the 'called shot', a home run off Charlie Root, though whether he really pointed beforehand is still debated.
Wear the famous number with our Babe Ruth 3 Jersey Frame Men's T-Shirt.
Later Career and Legacy
Ruth finished with the Boston Braves in 1935, retiring with 714 home runs. In 1936 he was one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died in New York in 1948, aged 53.
Honours
World Series
- Boston Red Sox: 1915, 1916, 1918
- New York Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
Individual
- American League MVP: 1923
- AL batting champion: 1924
- AL home run leader 12 times
- All-Star: 1933, 1934 (hit the first home run in All-Star Game history)
Recognition
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1936
- Number 3 retired by the New York Yankees
Away From the Game
Ruth was baseball's first great celebrity, as famous for his larger-than-life personality as for his hitting. He never forgot his roots at St. Mary's, and his number 3 remains one of the most famous in sport.
FAQs
How old was Babe Ruth when he died?
Babe Ruth was 53 when he died on 16 August 1948.
Where was Babe Ruth born?
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 6 February 1895.
How tall was Babe Ruth?
He was 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).
What teams did Babe Ruth play for?
The Boston Red Sox (1914-1919), New York Yankees (1920-1934) and Boston Braves (1935).
How many home runs did Babe Ruth hit?
714 in his major league career, including 60 in 1927.
What was Babe Ruth's called shot?
In Game 3 of the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field, Ruth homered off Charlie Root after a gesture many believe was a prediction; historians still argue about it.
Shop the Babe Ruth Collection
Red Sox and Yankees badges, icon frames and jersey designs: here is our Babe Ruth range.
Explore the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox collections and our wider baseball collection, or make your own custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky.
0 comments