Babe Ruth Thread

[Babe_Ruth]

I just got a new member that knows a lot about Babe Ruth, so I decided to create a official thread about one of the greatest players of all time, he was a great pitcher and an amazing hitter but there's so much more. So discuss about the great Bambino.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

He was a womanizer, a drunkard, and an all around cad. But he could hit the Hell out of a baseball, so all of that gets overlooked. In the grand scheme of things I think there are more important figures in sports history deserving of our praise.


Hoosier.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by Hoosier Daddy

He was a womanizer, a drunkard, and an all around cad. But he could hit the Hell out of a baseball, so all of that gets overlooked. In the grand scheme of things I think there are more important figures in sports history deserving of our praise.

Hoosier.

Hoosier, agreed Babe Ruth did have some flaws just like we all do. His are more well known because every move he made in life was noted. Not to excuse some of his actions.

The fans of the game of baseball appreciate what a real talent he was and most do not excuse his faults but are fascinated with the great talent he was.

Don't know what your knowledge of him is. Most know he started out as a pitcher. How many know that in the 3 seasons he was a pitcher only 1915, 1916 and 1917 he was one of the best in the game and recognized as the best left hander in both the American and National league. That in nine pitching match ups with the great Walter Johnson Ruth won six games and lost three. That the only two pitchers were better than Ruth in years 1915-16-17, they were Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander, two of the greatest ever.

It's really quite a success story. From that orphanage, St. Marys and after a couple of years he is on his way to becoming the most famous and greatest slugger ever. Sounds like a fairy tale, that the best left handed pitcher then moves to the outfield and becomes the greatest slugger ever.

Yes he had his faults but there was that good side of him so many visits to hospitals, orphanages and sick children at home. His good side far out weighing his bad side.

His numbers and stats in the game are amazing and I would hope this thread, this discussion stays alive and is joined by others and those numbers can become a part of the discussion.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Originally Posted by Hoosier Daddy

He was a womanizer, a drunkard, and an all around cad. But he could hit the Hell out of a baseball, so all of that gets overlooked. In the grand scheme of things I think there are more important figures in sports history deserving of our praise.


Hoosier.

What's up Hoosier (hot avatar btw),

The womanizer can be said about many baseball players and probably general citizens back then. Just so happens Ruth had more options than any of them. And he enjoyed it. He drank as did many other ball players and others including presidents during prohibition. You're quick to label him a "drunkard" but there is documented information that would show he wasn't a "drunk" in the general sense. He enjoyed a drink but he certainly could function without it and never had a problem quitting altogether when needed. Anyway, I would suggest a few books if you'd like to read about the real George Herman Ruth. The first would be Robert Creamer's book, and the next would be Marshall Smelser's book. Read those for a start. Seems like right now you have a one-way view of him which has been formed through Hollywood's inaccurate potrayal.


btw: good to see you posting here Joe.

With players of fargone era's like Ruth's was its hard not to think about what they would have done in todays game. I don't think Ruth would have been nearly as succesful in the game today. There are more vices that would have likely swayed him, and I'm not sure there were many pitchers back then that could hit 96 miles an hour with a fastball, let alone 90.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by natnsoxfan

With players of fargone era's like Ruth's was its hard not to think about what they would have done in todays game. I don't think Ruth would have been nearly as succesful in the game today. There are more vices that would have likely swayed him, and I'm not sure there were many pitchers back then that could hit 96 miles an hour with a fastball, let alone 90.

You mention the vices in todays world. How do we just assume that Babe Ruth would have succumed to them. He may have had a completely different upbringing, may not have spent all that time in an orphanage. To get right to the point he would have grown up in a world far different than the time he grew up in 100 years ago. We will never know what the Ruth of today would be like.

Fair enough. But I kind of meant if he came here in a time machine as he was type of thing.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Originally Posted by Sultan_1895-1948

What's up Hoosier (hot avatar btw),

The womanizer can be said about many baseball players and probably general citizens back then. Just so happens Ruth had more options than any of them. And he enjoyed it. He drank as did many other ball players and others including presidents during prohibition. You're quick to label him a "drunkard" but there is documented information that would show he wasn't a "drunk" in the general sense. He enjoyed a drink but he certainly could function without it and never had a problem quitting altogether when needed. Anyway, I would suggest a few books if you'd like to read about the real George Herman Ruth. The first would be Robert Creamer's book, and the next would be Marshall Smelser's book. Read those for a start. Seems like right now you have a one-way view of him which has been formed through Hollywood's inaccurate potrayal.


btw: good to see you posting here Joe.

I'll take you up on that and try to get my hands on the books you've mentioned. I'm not one to be afraid to wrap my mind around another perspective. This is especially true when it concerns another mans reputation as portrayed through the media.

Hoosier.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by Sultan_1895-1948

What's up Hoosier (hot avatar btw),

The womanizer can be said about many baseball players and probably general citizens back then. Just so happens Ruth had more options than any of them. And he enjoyed it. He drank as did many other ball players and others including presidents during prohibition. You're quick to label him a "drunkard" but there is documented information that would show he wasn't a "drunk" in the general sense. He enjoyed a drink but he certainly could function without it and never had a problem quitting altogether when needed. Anyway, I would suggest a few books if you'd like to read about the real George Herman Ruth. The first would be Robert Creamer's book, and the next would be Marshall Smelser's book. Read those for a start. Seems like right now you have a one-way view of him which has been formed through Hollywood's inaccurate potrayal.


btw: good to see you posting here Joe.

Jimmie Reese who spent a few seasons with the Yanks said that Ruth's drinking was not what many believed. According to Reese Ruth enjoyed going out an having a few not much different than most people. Now Jimmie was with the Yanks in 1930-32, possible the younger Ruth was a bit more of a drinker.

Lets use some common sense here. Could Babe Ruth have been the drinker some believe him to be and play all those years and put up the numbers he did if he was hung over the next day, that many days.


Happy to join in the mix.

[Babe_Ruth]

Babe Ruth was a great pitcher and a great hitter. Shoeless you mentioned that he was just a pitcher in his first three seasons, that's why I still consider him the home run king because in those three seasons he could of hit easily 30 home runs a season, which would give him 90 more which would be 804 career home runs.

I don't know if this is true but I heard somewhere that Babe Ruth once said after retiring that if he knew the game was about hitting for average and singles he would hit over 500. I personally believe him, the man could hit anywhere he wanted on the field. He's famous for pointing his bat in the left field bleachers in the World Series, and then he hit a home run.

He might of been a womanizer and liked to drink but he was still a good man like Shoeless mentioned. I don't know much about him, but I've read books and seen highlights of him, but in my opinion he's the best of all time. What he did in his career was simply amazing. Great pitcher and hitter, it's unheard of these days.

Can you tell me a little bit more about him Shoeless?