Babe Ruth

baseball · sports hero · home runs · 1920s

Started as a pitcher. Babe Ruth began his baseball career as an amazing left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. But he was so good at hitting home runs that teams moved him to the outfield instead.

Hit home runs farther. Ruth was nicknamed 'the Sultan of Swat' because he could hit baseballs so hard and so far that he changed the way baseball was played. He was one of the first players to make home runs the exciting center of the game.

Famous with the Yankees. Ruth became a superstar when he joined the New York Yankees in 1920. He led the team to four World Series championships and became the most famous baseball player in America.

Hall of Fame honor. In 1936, Babe Ruth was one of the very first five players ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. This special honor showed just how important he was to the sport of baseball.

Career record holder. During his 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, Ruth set records for home runs and other statistics that made him a legend. Other players worked hard for years trying to break the records he set.