BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: On September 30, 1927, the New York Yankees player Babe Ruth etched his name into baseball history by hitting his 60th home run in the 1927 season, a record that would stand for an impressive 34 years.
Even today, sports fans are awestruck by the magnitude of his single-season accomplishment that he achieved while playing against the Washington Senators at Yankee Stadium.
Babe Ruth, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, earned his iconic moniker "Babe," a twist on the word "baby," when he joined the Boston Red Sox, reflecting his perceived naiveté at the time.
Why is Babe Ruth so famous?
In 1920, Babe Ruth made a resounding impact with 54 home runs, and he followed it up with an even more astonishing 59 home runs in 1921, putting him on the map.
He emerged as a colossal symbol of America's prowess, embodying brilliance alongside human flaws that rendered him more authentic than mythical.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame acknowledges the enduring significance of Babe Ruth's feat, highlighting that the ball he used to achieve this milestone is now housed in Cooperstown.
While five other players have since surpassed the 60-home-run mark, Ruth's achievement remains unparalleled in the eyes of many sports observers and enthusiasts.
During the landmark 1927 season, Ruth's home run prowess stood out dramatically. Notably, no other American League team was able to collectively hit more than 56 home runs.
Ruth's individual performance was nothing short of extraordinary, especially in the late months of August and September, where he swatted an impressive 26 home runs.
To put this in perspective, the entire Cleveland Indians roster that year managed only 26 home runs throughout the entire season.
Was Babe Ruth a part of the New York Yankees?
The twist of fate that altered baseball history occurred before the 1920 season when Babe Ruth's contract was sold by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees.
This move, orchestrated by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, apparently aimed to finance the musical "No, No, Nanette."
Ruth's batting feats during the 1920s were so extraordinary that they gave rise to a new sports adjective — "Ruthian." The term, still prevalent in sports discussions today, signifies a statistical accomplishment of such astounding scope that it overshadows those around it.
His legacy, exemplified by his 60-home-run season, continues to captivate and define the standard of excellence in baseball.
Did Babe Ruth act in a movie?
In 1927, Babe Ruth took on the role of a movie star in the silent film 'Babe Comes Home'.
The baseball icon played himself in the 1942 Lou Gehrig biopic 'The Pride of the Yankees', putting an end to his film career.
'Babe Comes Home' centered around a semi-fictional baseball player named Babe Dugan, who finds inspiration to hit a towering home run when his love interest offers him a plug of chewing tobacco just before he steps up to the plate.
Ruth's real-life heroics on the baseball field that year were equally remarkable. In September alone, he smashed an incredible 17 home runs, surpassing his own seemingly unattainable record of 59 home runs set six years prior.
His ability to not only dominate the sport but also seamlessly transition into the world of cinema further solidified his iconic status in American culture.
How old was Babe Ruth when he died and how?
Babe Ruth's life came to a poignant end on August 16, 1948, when he succumbed to throat cancer at the age of 53. The legacy of his 22-year big league career, however, endured through the decades.
Remarkably, his record for career home runs of 714 remained unbroken until Hank Aaron surpassed it by hitting his 715th home run on April 8, 1974, 39 years after Ruth's death.
