Each week, The London West Tincaps Major Rookie team will select an MLB player of the week. This may be a current player on a hot streak, a former baseball great or someone we want to recognize and learn about.
This week's player of the week is George Herman Ruth Jr., known to all as Babe Ruth.
Born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore Maryland, Babe Ruth's Major League Baseball career spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed the "Sultan of Swat" and the "Great Bambino", Ruth began his career with the Boston Red Sox as a left handed pitcher. He played with Boston from 1914 to 1919, winning 3 World Series Titles. In 1920, he was traded to the New York Yankees for $125,000. This trade entered the Red Sox in to an 86 year World Series Title drought and gave birth to the "Curse of the Bambino".
In his 15 seasons with the Yankees, the team won 7 pennants and 4 World Series Titles. Ruth re-wrote the record books, setting records for most home runs in a month, most home runs in a season, and he still holds records today for the most extra base hits in a season (119 in 1921), runs scored in a season (177 in 1921) and total bases in a season (457 in 1921). He made his last appearance on May 30, 1935 with the Boston Braves.
On August 16, 1948, after a battle with cancer, Ruth died in his sleep at the age of 53. His open casket was placed on display in the rotunda of Yankee Stadium, where it remained for two days; 77,000 people filed past to pay him tribute. His funeral Mass took place in New York and a crowd estimated at 75,000 waited outside. On June 13, 1948 his jersey number 3 was retired by the Yankees. It was his final appearance at Yankee stadium, the "House that Ruth Built".
As impressive as his stats were, Ruth was a man larger than life. In a time where baseball was about defense and pitching and scratching in runs by bunts, hits and stolen bases, Ruth changed the game with his powerful home runs and flashy personality. Baseball had never seen anyone like him and arguably, never will.
Babe Ruth's Career Stats
Games - 2503
At Bats - 8399
Hits - 2873
Home Runs - 714
Runs Batted In - 2213
Runs Scored - 2174
Batting Average - .342
Stolen Bases - 123
On Base Percentage - .474
Slugging Percentage - .690
Strikeouts - 1330
Win-Loss Record - 94-46
Earned Run Average - 2.28
Strikeouts - 488
Walks - 441
2x All Star - 1933, 1934
7x World Series Champion - 1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
AL MVP - 1923
AL Batting Champion - 1924
12x Home Run Champion - 1918-21, 1923, 1924, 1926-31
6x RBI Leader - 1919-21, 1923, 1926, 1928
AL ERA Leader - 1916
Babe Ruth's Baseball Hall of Fame Page
1920 Babe Ruth Highlights
Babe Calls His Shot