On April 27, baseball fans around the country honor one of baseball’s all-time greatest players. It’s National Babe Ruth Day.
George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr., born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland was nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”. Spending 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played for three teams from 1914 to 1935.
Babe Ruth’s baseball career started as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He became a full-time right-fielder when the New York Yankees bought his contract in 1919. Being one of the league’s most prolific hitters, he helped the Yankees win seven pennants and four World Series titles.
Ruth set career records, in his time, for home runs, slugging percentage, runs batted in, and on-base plus slugging. In 1927, he was the very first player to hit 60 home runs in one season.
Following a short stint with the Boston Braves, Ruth retired in 1935. In 1936, he became one of the first five players to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1946, after experiencing severe eye pain and difficulty swallowing, Babe Ruth was diagnosed with cancer. On April 27, 1947, he was able to attend the proclaimed Babe Ruth Day and spoke briefly to a crowd of almost 60,000 people at Yankee Stadium.
At the age of 53, on August 16, 1948, at 8:01 pm, Babe Ruth died in his sleep.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Play a game of catch in the backyard. Go the batting cages and try slugging a few Babe Ruth style. Buy some peanuts and Cracker Jacks and head out to the ball game! Use #NationalBabeRuthDay to share on social media.
HISTORY
National Babe Ruth Day, an unofficial national holiday, has been recognized and celebrated since 1947.
