What Year Did Babe Ruth Start Playing Baseball?

Many baseball fans know that Babe Ruth is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. But what year did he first start playing baseball? Read on to find out!

Babe Ruth’s Early Life

Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children born to George and Katie Ruth. His father worked as a tavern keeper and later as a saloon owner. Babe Ruth’s childhood was a tough one. When he was seven, his father died of pneumonia, leaving his mother to raise eight children on her own. As a result, Babe Ruth spent a lot of time on the streets with other boys his age, getting into trouble.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1895

George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth and nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”, was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Ruth initially established his reputation as a pitcher, then as a slugging outfielder, first for the Boston Red Sox and then for the New York Yankees. His main rival was Yankee pitcher Lou Gehrig, who later supplanted him as the Yankees’ star.

Grew up in a tough neighborhood

Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children born to Kate Schamberger Ruth and George Herman Ruth Sr. His parents were German Catholic immigrants who ran a tavern. His father also worked as a waterfront laborer, shipyard rigger, and occasional longshoreman.

Ruth’s childhood came to an abrupt end when his parents died from different illnesses within a span of three years. He was just seven when his father died ofolescence, he joined a local baseball team called the Orioles. The Orioles were one of many semi-professional teams in Baltimore at the time. They played their home games at Oriole Park, which was also the home field of the Baltimore Elite Giants, a Negro League team.

In 1914, Ruth signed his first professional contract with the Baltimore Orioles for $600 per season ($8,600 in today’s dollars). He played for their minor league team in 1914 and 1915. In 1916, he was called up to play major league baseball with the Orioles but only played four games before he was sent back down to the minors.

Was a talented baseball player from a young age

Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first of eight children born to Kate Schamberger-Ruth and George Herman Ruth Sr. His parents were German Catholic immigrants. Ruth’s father worked as a barman and then as a sign painter for a local inn. His mother worked as a housekeeper for several wealthy families in the Baltimore area. When Babe was seven years old, his parents placed him in St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a Catholic orphanage and reformatory in Baltimore. At St. Mary’s, he learned how to play baseball and hone his skills as a pitcher. He remained at the school until he was 19 years old.

In 1914, Ruth began his professional career with the minor league Baltimore Orioles. He played for the team for less than a year before being sold to the Boston Red Sox. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 1915 and helped the team win the World Series that year. Over the next few years, Ruth established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball and helped the Red Sox win two more World Series titles. However, by 1920, Ruth was better known for his hitting than his pitching and he was sold to the New York Yankees that year.

With the Yankees, Ruth became one of baseball’s first true superstars. He set several single-season records for home runs and helped the Yankees win seven American League pennants and four World Series titles between 1920 and 1932. In 1927, he hit 60 home runs in a single season, a record that stood for 34 years until it was broken by Roger Maris . Ruth retired from baseball in 1935 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame four years later

Babe Ruth’s Professional Career

George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth, started his professional career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1914. He was then sold to the Boston Red Sox in 1918. Ruth played for the Red Sox until 1920 when he was sold to the New York Yankees. He played for the Yankees until his retirement in 1935.

Started playing minor league baseball in 1914

George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth and nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”, was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Originally a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Ruth established many pitching records, some of which still stand, and became one of the sport’s most famous sluggers. Ruth moved to the New York Yankees in 1920, becoming one of their star players and a centerpiece of their Murderers’ Row lineup. He retired in 1935 after a short stint with the Boston Braves.

Was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1915

Babe Ruth was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1915, where he played for six seasons before being traded to the New York Yankees in 1920. He spent the rest of his professional career with the Yankees, winning seven World Series titles.

Helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 1918

Babe Ruth helped the Red Sox win their fifth World Series title in 1918. He pitched in 13 games that postseason, including a complete game victory in Game 6.

Was traded to the New York Yankees in 1920

On January 3, 1920, Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees for $125,000 and a loan of $300,000 by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee. Ruth’s years with the Red Sox were his best individually; he helped the team win three World Series titles. He is perhaps best known, however, for what happened after he was traded.

Helped the Yankees win the World Series in 1923

In 1923, Ruth helped the Yankees win the World Series, which was their first championship in eight years. He had another outstanding year, batting .393 with 41 home runs and 130 RBIs. The Yankees won the pennant again in 1924, but lost the World Series to the Giants in what would become known as the ‘Polo Grounds Massacre.’ Ruth had a poor series, batting just .118. New York won the pennant once more in 1925, but lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Later Years

After he was traded to the New York Yankees in 1920, Ruth helped lead the Yankees to seven American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships. Although he had originally been signed as a pitcher, Ruth was soon converted into an outfielder and became one of the most feared hitters in baseball. His home run hitting prowess helped usher in a new live-ball era of baseball, in which pitchers became increasingly reluctant to pitch to him. In his final years with the Yankees, Ruth’s health began to decline and he was forced to retire from baseball in 1935.

Retired from baseball in 1935

Babe Ruth played his last game on May 30, 1935, for the Boston Braves. He was officially retired from baseball on June 2. In his 22 seasons, Ruth played 2,503 games and had 2,873 hits, 714 home runs, and a .342 batting average.

Died of cancer in 1948

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed “The Bambino” and “The Sultan of Swat”, he began his MLB career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Ruth established many MLB batting records, including career home runs (714), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164); the latter two still stand as of 2019. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. In 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its “first five” inaugural members

Was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936

In December 1935, Ruth was hospitalized with a tumor on his left thumb. The tumor was successfully removed, but the thumb was permanently stiff afterwards. Ruth’s health continued to decline and he underwent surgery for cancer on June 13, 1946. The exact nature of the cancer was not made public at the time, but it has since been revealed that he had adenocarcinoma. He was discharged from the hospital on July 26 and died less than two months later, on August 16, 1946, at his home in New York City. He was 54 years old. Babe Ruth’s body lay in repose at Yankee Stadium for two days and his funeral procession through Manhattan drew an estimated two million mourners. He was buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.