Biography
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Boston Babe
After only five months with the Baltimore Orioles, The Boston Red Sox purchased Babe's contract, and he became a Major Leaguer at the tender age of 19. He pitched and played outfield for the Red Sox for the next six years. Ruth made an immediate impact both on and off the field. Stories of his off-the-field eating and drinking escapades have become as legendary as his baseball accomplishments.
He will always be remembered as one of the greatest hitters of all time, but he was an equally adept pitcher. In his first World Series game for Boston in 1916, Babe set a record that still stands today. Ruth took the mound in Game 4 against the National League Champion Brooklyn Robins. He got off to a rocky start in the first inning by giving up a quick run, but settled down to pitch 13 scoreless innings for the 2-1 win. The 14-inning gem stands as the longest complete game in World Series history.
Two years later, now the ace of the Boston staff, the Babeorchestrated another pitching masterpiece in Game 1 by pitching a complete game 1-0 shutout. He was called to the mound again in Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs. Once again, it seemed like Ruth was untouchable. He went eight strong innings, until giving up two runs in the top of the 8th. However, The Red Sox stormed back in their half of the inning with one run to put them up 3-2, and give Ruth his 3rd win in 3 World Series games. Most importantly, combined with his shutout innings in 1916, the nine scoreless innings in Game 1 of the 1918 World Series, and the eight scoreless innings in Game 4, Ruth notched a total of 29 2/3 scoreless World Series innings, breaking Christy Mathewson's record. This amazing record stood for 43 years. A dubious streak also began after that World Series win: It would be the last World Series title the Red Sox would win until 2004.
The next season the Red Sox finished with a dismal 66-71 record, 6th place in the American League. Not only did Babe win nine of his 17 starts but he smashed 29 home runs, dismantling Buck Freeman's single season home run record by four long balls. However, new ownership took hold for the Boston ball club, and Ruth's career was about to take an historic turn. In December 1919, new owner Harry Frazee sold the emerging superstar to the Yankees for $100,000 and a $350,000 loan to finance Frazee's Broadway production interests. Many consider this the most lopsided deal in the history of professional sports.
© Babe Ruth