The Beginning
America’s favorite pastime is baseball. It reminds us what it means to be an American athlete by emulating the tradition and spirit of American sports in a different manner.
As one of the most watched sports in America to this day, Major League Baseball draws crowds of spectators every year. Take a closer look at Babe Ruth, one of the most well-known, loved, and respected athletes in American sports.
At the age of seven, Babe Ruth started playing baseball. He went to the Boys Industrial School in St. Mary’s. He met Brother Matthias Boutilier, his tutor, and a well-known baseball player.
When he joined the Baltimore Orioles to play minor-league baseball, he got his first taste of the professional baseball scene. He eventually signed with the Boston Red Sox, where he succeeded as a pitcher. He would also slug unbelievable home runs that were unheard of before the dead-ball period of the 1920s.
Babe Ruth: A Black Man?
Babe Ruth was born in Germany, and as a child, he spoke German. Babe Ruth was teased as a child even though he was born white because he had a “stereotypical” face and was darker than most of the guys he studied with. He went to school in a reformatory that was completely white.
Because he was frequently linked to Black athletes in Harlem and was thought to have a preference for Black women, many people questioned his background and race.
The Name “Babe”
Regarding Babe Ruth’s start as a professional player, there are many controversies. He is said to have received his first formal professional training in Fayetteville, North Carolina, before moving to Baltimore. Ruth signed a baseball deal with the Jack Dunn-owned Baltimore Orioles.
How did he come to be known as “Babe”? According to rumors, veterans made fun of him for being Dunn’s “darling” or new “project” as well as for acting improperly at restaurants, hotels, and trains as well as for his inexperienced talent.
First Career Home Run & The World Series Of 1921
Ruth appreciated “Wild Bill” Donovan, the manager of Providence, for his pitching skills and gained a lot from him. Ruth pitched a 9-0 victory after joining the Grays on August 18, 1914, and on September 5 at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Park, he hit his first home run.
On October 2, he returned to Boston, pitched, and defeated the New York Yankees. He had records of 23-8 in the international league and 2-1 in the main league. After the season, he married Helen Rudford.
In addition to the fact that all of the games were played on their home field, the Yankees were expected to do well. Ruth suffered a serious scrape to his elbow during Game 2 while sliding into third base, and it was recommended that he sit out the remainder of the season.
He played in the following three games over the doctor’s instructions, but the Yankees ultimately fell short 5-3. Ruth did score his first World Series home run, though. On March 4, 1922, he went on to sign a baseball deal for the highest amount of money ever—a staggering $52,000.
A Promise
One series was particularly famous for a promise Ruth made to a young patient named Johnny Sylvester. Ruth pledged to hit a home run for him. He visited the youngster in the hospital after the series was finished.
The visit was covered extensively by the media, which claimed that his actions saved the boy’s life because he had promised to hit the home run. It was an unforgettable moment for the celebrated baseball star.
Motivation For Social Change
Ruth faced intense criticism as he gained notoriety. He was the first baseball player to have this particular experience. The nation was going through a terrible time because it had just finished a World War and the 1918 flu pandemic.
America resisted any attempt to overthrow its dominance during the conflict. In the early 1920s, Babe Ruth embodied these values through his brilliant and showy demeanor. His presence exuded an all-pervasive aura that inspired pride.