Babe Ruth is one of the most legendary figures in sports history. His name remains synonymous with power, personality, and game-changing talent. From a troubled childhood to record-breaking feats on the field, Ruth transformed Major League Baseball and became its first true superstar. His career numbers, personality, and cultural impact continue to inspire generations.
Here’s a closer look at how George Herman “Babe” Ruth became the most iconic name in baseball.
Early Life: From Reformatory to the Diamond
George Herman Ruth Jr. was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children to survive infancy in a poor working-class family. His parents owned a tavern in the city’s waterfront district, and young George was left to roam the streets unsupervised. By the time he was seven, he was regularly skipping school, stealing, chewing tobacco, and getting into trouble.
His parents eventually sent him to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a Catholic reformatory run by the Xaverian Brothers. The institution emphasized strict discipline, hard work, and religious education. At St. Mary’s, Ruth remained for over a decade. It was there that he met Brother Matthias, a monk who played a key role in his transformation.
Brother Matthias introduced Ruth to baseball. The young boy showed exceptional talent, particularly as a pitcher and hitter. Under Brother Matthias’s mentorship, Ruth honed his skills. His powerful swing and natural athleticism quickly set him apart.
Entering Professional Baseball
At 19, Ruth caught the attention of Jack Dunn, the owner of the Baltimore Orioles, then a minor league team in the International League. Dunn signed Ruth in 1914, officially launching his professional career. Because Ruth was still legally a minor, Dunn had to become his legal guardian to finalize the contract.
Ruth’s teammates began referring to him as “Jack’s newest babe”—a nickname that stuck. From then on, George Herman Ruth was known simply as “Babe Ruth.”
Ruth’s time with the Orioles was brief. That same year, Dunn sold Ruth’s contract to the Boston Red Sox, where Ruth would begin to make his mark in the major leagues.
Red Sox Years: Dominance on the Mound
Babe Ruth began his MLB career as a pitcher. Between 1914 and 1919, he played six seasons for the Red Sox and developed into one of the league’s most effective left-handed pitchers. He compiled a record of 89–46 with a 2.19 ERA. In the 1916 World Series, he pitched a 14-inning complete game, allowing just one run—a World Series record that stood for decades.
Ruth helped Boston win three World Series championships during his time there. But it was his batting that began to draw national attention. His home run totals climbed quickly—29 in 1919 alone, a new single-season record at the time.
This power-hitting potential would soon overshadow his pitching abilities and change the course of baseball history.
The Sale to the Yankees and the Start of a Dynasty
In December 1919, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. Frazee’s decision was driven by financial troubles, but it came with a lasting consequence.
The sale marked a turning point for both franchises. The Yankees, who had never won a championship before acquiring Ruth, began one of the most successful runs in sports history. The Red Sox, meanwhile, entered a decades-long title drought.
This long stretch of futility became known as the “Curse of the Bambino,” a term coined by sportswriters to explain Boston’s inability to win another World Series title until 2004.
Reinventing the Game with Power
With the Yankees, Ruth transitioned from pitcher to full-time outfielder and revolutionized hitting in baseball. He hit 54 home runs in 1920, smashing his own record. In 1921, he upped it to 59.
Then in 1927, as part of the famed “Murderers’ Row” lineup, Ruth hit 60 home runs—a single-season record that stood for 34 years. That same season, the Yankees won 110 games and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.
Ruth’s approach—swinging for the fences—changed how the game was played. Until then, baseball emphasized bunts, steals, and small-ball tactics. Ruth’s success made the home run the centerpiece of offense and transformed the sport into a power-driven spectacle.
Ruth’s Most Notable Career Records
During his 22-year career, Ruth set and held numerous records, some of which stood for generations:
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Career Home Runs: 714 (a record until 1974, when Hank Aaron surpassed it)
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Single-Season Home Runs: 60 (set in 1927; broken by Roger Maris in 1961)
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Most Seasons Leading MLB in Home Runs: 12
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Most Total Bases in a Season: 457
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Highest Single-Season Slugging Percentage: .847 (1920)
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Career Slugging Percentage: .690 (still the highest in MLB history)
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OPS (on-base plus slugging): Career OPS of 1.164 (still #1 all-time)
Ruth finished his career with a batting average of .342, 2,873 hits, and 2,214 RBIs.
Life Off the Field
As Ruth’s fame grew, so did stories of his off-field lifestyle. He was known for his love of fine food, parties, and women. His appetite for luxury and lack of discipline at times concerned team officials and limited his future coaching opportunities.
Despite this, fans loved his larger-than-life personality. He embraced his role as a celebrity and was the first baseball player to achieve widespread national fame. Ruth also became one of the earliest athletes to endorse products, appear in movies, and inspire children around the country.
Return to Boston and Final Playing Days
In 1935, Ruth briefly returned to Boston—this time with the Boston Braves of the National League. He hoped the position would lead to a managerial role, but it did not.
His final moments on the field still carried drama. In one of his last games, he hit three home runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates. But his body was worn down, and a week later, he retired.
Hall of Fame and Later Life
In 1936, Babe Ruth became one of the first five inductees into the newly established Baseball Hall of Fame, alongside Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson.
Although he wanted to manage a major league team, Ruth never received an offer. In 1938, he served briefly as a coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers, primarily in a ceremonial role. After that, he dedicated much of his time to public appearances, charity events, and youth baseball.
Health Decline and Death
In 1946, Ruth was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. Despite declining health, he remained visible in the baseball community. In 1947, he attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Yankee Stadium, where fans gave him a standing ovation.
On August 16, 1948, Babe Ruth died in New York City at age 53. More than 75,000 people lined up at Yankee Stadium to pay their respects as he lay in state. He was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.
Babe Ruth’s Legacy
Babe Ruth changed the face of baseball. He took a game that was slow, strategic, and regional—and turned it into a spectacle that captured national attention.
He helped the Yankees become the most successful franchise in sports history and set standards for hitting that would define the modern game. His name is still cited regularly in conversations about greatness, not just in baseball but across all sports.
Even for those who never watched him play, the legend of Babe Ruth looms large. His story—from troubled beginnings to iconic fame—continues to resonate with athletes, fans, and storytellers alike.