Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth, forever known by the nickname "Babe," was an American Hall of Fame baseball player who was widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Born and raised in a working class family in a tough section of Baltimore, Maryland, Ruth was a rambunctious child who could never avoid getting into trouble. At the age of 7 his parents sent him to a Baltimore reformatory school run by Catholic nuns. It was at the school that Ruth learned how to play baseball. He quickly stood out for his prowess as a pitcher, although Ruth was also recognized for his ability as a power hitter. But it was Ruth's pitching that would eventually earn him the attention of major league scouts, who signed the young player to a minor league contract when he was 19 in early 1914. Ruth would toil around in the minor leagues for the early months of 1914, but quickly proved himself to be a once-in-a-generation talent. Ruth made his major league debut as a pitcher on July 11, 1914 with the Boston Red Sox. He would acquire the nickname "Babe" shortly after arriving in Boston, which would stay with him for the rest of his life. During his tenure with the Red Sox Ruth helped the team win three World Series titles, in 1915, 1916, and 1918. Ruth spent six successful seasons with the Red Sox before being sold to the rival New York Yankees in early 1920. Upon making his debut with the Yankees, Ruth had transitioned from a pitcher to an outfielder, which was done primarily to utilize his power-hitting abilities as a batter. Throughout his 14-year tenure with the Yankees, Ruth would go on to smash virtually every batting record in the major league (the most notable of which was his 60 home runs during the 1927 season), while leading the Yankees to four World Series championships. Ruth's tenure with the Yankees ended on a high note in 1934, and after one unremarkable season with the Boston Braves in 1935, he hung up his cleats for good. Although Ruth was physically unable to play baseball anymore, he spent the remainder of his years staying as close to the sport as possible. He tried becoming a manager in the major leagues, but no team was willing to offer him the job, given Ruth's penchant for alcohol and extreme living off the field. Regardless, the baseball community's love for Ruth only grew even after his playing days were over. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the organization's first five inaugural members, and even made an appearance in 1942's "The Pride of the Yankees," which was about his fellow Yankee Lou Gehrig. After years of high-living, Ruth's lifestyle began catching up with him, and in 1946 he was diagnosed with cancer. He died two years later in his sleep at the age of 53. In the decades since his passing, Ruth's stature in the sports world has only grown. Hundreds of books have been written about his life and career, while various polls and rankings have consistently place Ruth, along with other icons like Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, as one of the greatest athletes of all time.