George Herman Babe Ruth

2443 Words5 Pages

George Herman "Babe" Ruth

George Herman "Babe" Ruth was an American icon or symbol just as Uncle Sam was; the Babe started it all. He was the best pitcher in his day and still remains the strongest slugger in the game. Ruth had power, strength, an appetite and a desire for the game that no other player would ever have. It was "Babe Ruth, a hero of prowess who had achieved greatness by the sheer extent of his extraordinary ability" that put a smile on all the youngsters faces. No matter where he was the fans would follow; the attendance was always the greatest in his presence.

After the 1919 World Series scandal by the "Black Sox", along with the problems in the National Commission, professional baseball was reorganized and a new commissioner was appointed. In 1921 the new ball, which is also the current ball, was introduced; this new ball was tightly wound which made it much easier for more home runs and created more of an active game; this also was the year which Ruth's home runs increased from twenty-nine to fifty-nine, hitting a career total of 714. With an increase in the action of the game, the media coverage increased drastically as well, including both paper coverage and radio coverage. The idea of the home run was more of a new concept and with Ruth's improvement it became a symbol of The Babe. The idea of the home run also symbolized the creation of a strong willed nation and self-confident young men, enforcing the idea that innovations and expansion would constantly be occurring.

It was believed that by watching baseball, youngsters would learn to be better people because they would begin to imitate the professionals who became their heroes. Baseball taught quick decision making skills, competitiveness, how to sacrifice for the team, as well as how to accept authority. Hugh Fullerton, a modern student of baseball at the time, spoke of his thoughts of baseball:

Baseball to my way of thinking, is the greatest single force working for Americanization. No other game appeals so much to the foreign born youngsters and nothing, not even the schools, teaches the American spirit so quickly, or inculcates the idea of sportsmanship or fair play as thoroughly.

No matter where Babe Ruth was, be it on the diamond or of the diamond, the fans respected him, forgetting his flashy ways and brash behaviour. Ruth helped socialize and bring tog...

... middle of paper ...

...two months before he died in June 1948, but they were visits strictly to watch the game.

Ruth never lost his touch with the fans. Eleven years after the grand opening of the Hall of Fame, a room in the building was named after him and in 1983 he was honoured with a United States postage stamp. Even though his life outside baseball was not flattering, his rough manner and speech were all ignored; his unique play of the game made up for it all. Ruth changed baseball from a dirty game of trickery to a masterful game of power. He never played a bad game according to the fans; he always played at a high standard. He dominated the diamond with both his style, his power, and with his statistics. Ruth's 1927 sixty home run record in one season and his 714 home runs still remained until the 1960's. With his distinctive baseball style and his flashy lifestyle, Ruth was popular with not only true baseball fans, but non-fans as well. Ruth was a man that could represent the old style of baseball but could also follow the new style in which he ended his career. George Herman "Babe" Ruth had spirit, charisma and glamour; Ruth was a star and is still a star. The Babe was the American Dream.

More about George Herman Babe Ruth

Open Document