Most people know who Babe Ruth is, some others have heard about him but are not completely aware of the legacy of this athlete, and, lastly, there is a small group of people who do not know anything about him.
Either way, continue reading about Babe Ruth and you will find many interesting facts about this phenomenal athlete.
Babe Ruth Interesting Facts
1. Babe Ruth had a very difficult childhood
Even though Ruth became an American professional baseball player, he had a very difficult childhood. He was the son of a German couple who struggled to feed their 8 children. Even though his dad worked full time his mother was often sick, so nobody really paid any attention to Babe.
This meant that Ruth would often skip school, he tried alcohol when he was really young, and overall, was a little bit lost during his childhood, as sad fact about Babe Ruth.
His parents decided it was time for him to go to an only boys asylum that would give shelter to incorrigible people and orphans, and he would often try to escape the place, up until his mother died and he ended up living there throughout the whole year.
2. Baseball saved the life of Babe Ruth
It can be said that baseball gave Ruth the opportunity to live a life free of trouble. He had a second chance when he started to play baseball, and in 1914, he was signed to play for the Baltimore Orioles, a local minor-league team.
He had a contract that would pay him $600 a month, something he couldn’t believe. He went from having a poor upbringing to now be able to afford things, and he was still a teenager at the time.
3. The real reason behind the nickname ‘’Babe’’
It was Jack Dunn who signed Ruth to his first team, the Baltimore Orioles franchise. When he first started playing one of the sportswriters used to call him one of the ‘’Dunn’s babes’’, as the other members of the team.
But the nickname stuck with Ruth as it was really ironic, considering Babe was a large man, he was really tall and weighed more than 200 pounds, so he definitely caught everybody’s attention.
4. Ruth’s potential was real and everybody saw it
This is why at the end of the 1914 baseball season, Dunn sold Babe Ruth to the Boston Red Sox, who, of course, was part of the American League.
A couple of months went by and Ruth became the best left-handed pitcher in the world. He was one of the main reasons why the Boston Red Sox won 87 games, earning him lots of money and thousands – if not millions of fans – all over the world, an important fact about Babe Ruth.
5. Babe Ruth was then sold to the New York Yankees
In 1920, Harry Frazee decided to sell Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees as he was short on cash. He made a great deal for himself, as he sold Ruth for $125,000.
He also managed to get a personal loan from the New York Yankees’ owner Jacob Ruppert, as he needed more money to invest in his Broadway shows.
Even though Babe Ruth wasn’t too happy to be working and playing for the Yankees, he still managed to sign a contract for 2 years, earning more than $10,000 a year, a great amount of money back then.
It was during this time that he became known as the ‘’Sultan of Swat’’, and he was also called the ‘’greatest hitter on earth’’.
6. Babe Ruth used to break his own records
When he first started playing with the New York Yankees, fans wouldn’t believe what they were seeing. He was a magnificent player and everybody loved him for that.
It was in 1920 when he broke his own record when he hit 54 home runs, which was 25 more home runs than what he hit in 1919, only a year earlier, an interesting fact about Babe Ruth.
Of course, this also meant that he was earning more money, and in 1922 his salary had increased accordingly. He was now earning $52,000 per year, making him the highest-paid player in baseball during those golden years.
7. But the golden years were soon going to be extinct, as Babe Ruth got sick
Before he was diagnosed, Babe Ruth’s home runs had dropped to 35 by 1922, just two years after he broke his own record. Everybody had hoped that he would recover and start playing better, but it was a very difficult task for him.
He had an improved season in 1924, and he hit 46 home runs, but the following year he almost collapsed and at the end of 1925 he was suffering from an intestinal disorder, something that truly affected him on a personal level and on his professional life.
8. Once again Babe Ruth would prove why he was the greatest baseball player of all times
However, one of the greatest comebacks in history came from Babe Ruth, as he had an amazing season in 1926. He was able to do 49 home runs per season from 1926 to 1932, he had batted at least 150 runs, and he had led the New York Yankees to become the champions of three World Series, an impressive fact about Babe Ruth.
He started earning $70,000 per year, making him, once again, the most expensive player during that time.
Conclusion
It can be said that Babe Ruth is truly an American champion, he was one of the five players who were in the Baseball Hall of Fame when the first election was held in 1936.
But, in addition to his greatness on the field, he was also adored by fans worldwide. People tend to focus on the physical ability that Ruth had, and he has often been referred to as the best athlete in the United States of America has produced.
Another thing that always catches the attention of the baseball commentators is the ability that Ruth had to overcome problems. From being a poor boy he went on to become America’s most important player, where he managed to win many World Series titles.
I hope that this article on Babe Ruth facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Historical People Facts!
