"Babe" Ruth was one of the
most phenomenally gifted and well-liked baseball players who
ever lived. According to historians and baseball writers,
"Ruth was a presence of mythic proportions. When he was
pitching for the Boston Red Sox, he was one of the best left-handers
the game has ever known."
| See
Babe Hit |
 |
New York Daily News Photos |
|
Because of his awesome abilities as a
hitter, base runner and fielder, Ruth was converted to a outfielder-pitcher
in 1918. He was sold to the New York Yankees in 1920. Again,
historians note, "Ruth was the outstanding outfielder
of his time and he single-handedly changed baseball and its
economics forever. Ruth possessed a strong, rapid throwing
arm, he could beat any of his teammates in a foot race and
was the greatest home run hitter who ever lived."
Babe Ruth's legacy went well beyond baseball
statistics. Ruth was so well paid by the end of his career,
that he helped increase the salaries of all players. When
he made $80,000 in 1930, someone pointed out to him he earned
more than the President of the United States (Hoover), Ruth
replied, "So What? I had a better year than
he did."
For three decades Ruth's name appeared
in print more often than anyone else in the world. During
World War II, when American soldiers shouted, "To hell
with the Emperor!" at their Japanese military, the Japanese
yelled back, "To hell with Babe Ruth!"
View Babe Ruth Legends (Page 2:
Sultan of Swat)
|
