How Long Did Babe Ruth Play Baseball?
Did you know that Babe Ruth played baseball for 22 seasons? That’s an amazing feat, especially considering the fact that he started his career way back in 1914.
If you’re a fan of baseball history, then you’ll definitely want to check out this blog post. We take a look at Babe Ruth’s career, highlighting some of the key moments and achievements.
Early Life and Career
Born George Herman Ruth, Jr. on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland, Babe Ruth was one of eight children. His parents worked hard, but they could not keep up with all of their kids. As a result, Ruth ended up in St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys when he was seven years old. At St. Mary’s, Ruth learned how to play baseball. He excelled at the game and when he was 19, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland
George Herman Ruth Jr. was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children born to George Herman Ruth Sr. and Kate Schamberger Ruth. His parents were German-American immigrants who married after moving to Baltimore. Babe’s mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked as a bartender and then later as a baseball coach.
Signed to the Baltimore Orioles
George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. One of eight children born to George Herman Ruth, Sr. and Kate Schamberger Ruth, Babe and his family lived in a row house in a working-class section of Baltimore. His father owned a series of barrooms, which were frequented by the city’s dock workers. As a young boy, Babe Ruth played baseball with friends in the streets and alleys near his home. He also attended a Catholic boys’ school and played organized baseball on its team.
In February 1914, at the age of 19, Ruth signed a contract with Jack Dunn, owner of the Baltimore Orioles (a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox). He made his professional debut with the Orioles that same year. Ruth quickly proved himself to be a talented pitcher, posting an impressive record of 22-6 with a 2.44 ERA (Earned Run Average) during his first year with the team.
Sold to the Boston Red Sox
On February 27, 1920, Ruth was sold to the Boston Red Sox for $125,000—a then-record price for a player. The New York Yankees purchased the rights to Ruth from the Red Sox on January 3, 1920, for $100,000. At the time, it was the most expensive transaction in baseball history.
The Sultan of Swat
Babe Ruth played Major League Baseball for 22 seasons, from 1914 to 1935. He was one of the most successful and popular players in the history of the sport. Ruth set many batting and pitching records during his career. He is still regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time.
Set multiple batting records
Babe Ruth played 22 seasons of Major League Baseball, from 1914 to 1935. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ruth set numerous batting records, including the major league records for home runs (714), slugging percentage (.687), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164).
Led the Red Sox to their first World Series win
In 1915, Ruth was sold to the Yankees where he would spend the next fifteen years of his career. He quickly became one of the most famous athletes in America. In 1923, he helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series win. The following year, he set a record for most home runs in a season with sixty. Ruth retired from baseball in 1935 and died two years later of cancer.
New York Yankees
Babe Ruth played for the New York Yankees from 1920-1934. Ruth was one of the most popular players in the history of the game and helped the Yankees win four World Series titles.
Traded to the Yankees
In 1920, Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees, where he played for the next fifteen seasons. He helped lead the Yankees to seven American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships. His 54 home runs in 1920 set the AL single-season record for a young player who had broken into the major leagues only two years earlier. Ruth’s record was then broken by Roger Maris in 1961.
Helped the Yankees win their first World Series
In 1923, Ruth helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series title. The following year, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery. Although he was temporarily sidelined, Ruth returned to the baseball diamond and continued to play for the Yankees until his retirement in 1935.
Later Years and Retirement
Babe Ruth played his last game on May 30, 1935, as a member of the Boston Braves. Ruth had planned to retire after the 1934 season, but was persuaded by Braves’ owner Judge Emil Fuchs to play one more season. Ruth was released by the Braves on February 26, 1935, and signed with the New York Yankees ten days later.
Set more records
In May 1930, Ruth homered off St. Louis Browns pitcher Willis Hudlin at League Park in Cleveland, setting the career record for home runs with his 587th. Ruth played in only 99 games that season due to various injuries, and his batting average dipped to a career-low .286. In spite of this, Ruth still led the league in walks (103) and slugging percentage (.609). The Yankees won their third consecutive World Series championship that year, defeating the Cardinals again in seven games.
In January 1935, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and manager McCarthy announced Ruth’s retirement from baseball. they did so at a press conference held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. At the time of his retirement, Ruth had played the equivalent of roughly 21 seasons in the major leagues (2,503 games). He had appeared in 2,084 career regular-season games (1,971 as an outfielder), and compiled a .342 batting average with 2,873 hits, 2174 RBIs, and 1,330 bases on balls. He also hit 714 home runs—a record that would stand for 39 years until it was broken by Hank Aaron— along with 158 triples and 457 doubles.
Retired from baseball
Ruth announced his retirement from baseball on June 2, 1935, saying that he was ” done” and had ” no regrets.” He made his final public appearance as a Yankee at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day 1936. In 1939, Ruth made a brief comeback as a player-coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Greatly reduced as a hitter by this time, he appeared in only 28 games and batted .181. Meanwhile, he served as an unofficial hitting coach for the team.
Legacy
Babe Ruth is considered one of the best baseball players of all time. He played for 22 seasons and helped the Yankees win seven World Series. Babe Ruth’s career batting average was .342 and he hit 714 home runs. He was also a great pitcher, winning 94 games and pitching 2,774 innings.
Considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time
Babe Ruth played his last major league game on May 30, 1935, with the Boston Braves. He had retired from baseball the previous year, but was coaxed out of retirement by Braves owner Emil Fuchs, who hoped to capitalize on Ruth’s popularity. Unfortunately for Fuchs, Ruth was far past his prime and only played 28 games for the Braves before finally hanging up his cleats for good.
In his 22 seasons withBoston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves, Ruth compiled a .342 batting average, hit 714 home runs and drove in 2,217 RBIs. He was a member of seven World Series championship teams and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.