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Babe Ruth

Baseball icon Babe RuthCreated by: PICRYLDated: 2017
Babe Ruth, 1919
Baseball icon Babe Ruth set numerous records as a pitcher and slugging outfielder. He was among the first five players inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame.
George Herman Ruth Jr., born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland, was one of eight children, although only he and his sister Mamie survived. George Jr.’s parents worked long hours, leaving little time to watch over him and his sister. George Jr. often skipped school and caused trouble in the neighborhood. When he turned 7 years old, his parents sent him to the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys run by Catholic monks from an order of the Xaverian Brothers. St. Mary’s provided a regimented environment that helped shape George Jr.’s future. Only 19, the law at the time stated that Ruth had to have a legal guardian sign his baseball contract in order for him to play professionally. As a result, Dunn became Ruth's legal guardian, leading teammates to jokingly call Ruth "Dunn's new babe." The joke stuck, and Ruth quickly earned the nickname "Babe" Ruth.
Ruth was only with the club for a short time before he was called up to the majors in Boston. The left-handed pitcher proved immediately to be a valuable member of the team. Over the next five years, Ruth led the Red Sox to three championships. In 1919, while with the Red Sox, Ruth set a single-season home run record of 29. This turned out to be just the beginning of a series of record-breaking performances by Ruth. In 1920, his first year in New York, he knocked 54 home runs. In his second season, he broke his own record by hitting 59 home runs and, in less than 10 seasons, Ruth had made his mark as baseball's all-time home run leader.
Over the course of his career, Ruth went on to break baseball's most important slugging records, including most years leading a league in home runs; most total bases in a season; and highest slugging percentage for a season.
On June 13, 1948, he made one last appearance at Yankee Stadium to celebrate the building's 25th anniversary. Two months later, on August 16, 1948, Babe Ruth died of cancer.

70 Media in collection ∙ page 1 of 1
Pershing & Babe Ruth, 5/28/24

Pershing & Babe Ruth, 5/28/24

[Rube Foster, Carl Mays, Ernie Shore, Babe Ruth, Dutch Leonard, Boston AL, 10/7/1915 (baseball)]

[Rube Foster, Carl Mays, Ernie Shore, Babe Ruth, Dutch Leonard, Boston...

Title and date based on research by the Pictorial History Committee, Society for American Baseball Research, 2006. Title from caption card and item: Boston Red Sox pitchers; group portrait standing before grand... More

[Babe Ruth, Bill Carrigan, Jack Barry, & Vean Gregg, Boston AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, Bill Carrigan, Jack Barry, & Vean Gregg, Boston AL (baseba...

Babe Ruth, 1919

Babe Ruth, 1919

Babe Ruth, 1919

Babe Ruth, 1919

Babe Ruth at bat, Garret catching

Babe Ruth at bat, Garret catching

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, holding up bat, in baseball uniform, on field]

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, holding up b...

Copyright by Keystone View Co. Inc. of N.Y. National Photo Company Collection.

Peerless "Babe" hangs up new world's record. "Babe" Ruth is seen making a new record with his third home run in one day in the recent double header between the Yanks and Senators

Peerless "Babe" hangs up new world's record. "Babe" Ruth is seen makin...

With insert of "Babe" with his arms extended from his sides. Photoprint copyrighted by Underwood & Underwood. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Caption card tracings: B.I.; Baseball.

[Babe Ruth carrying a 300 pound log for the stove, in snow]

[Babe Ruth carrying a 300 pound log for the stove, in snow]

National Photo Company Collection.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth at White House, 12/7/21

Babe Ruth at White House, 12/7/21

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Yankees at New Orleans, posed in front of bleachers, spring training, Babe Ruth in center]

[Yankees at New Orleans, posed in front of bleachers, spring training,...

George Grantham Bain Collection.

Babe Ruth selling Tubercular Christmans Seals in the lobby of Keiths Theater, Washington, D.C., where he is appearing this week

Babe Ruth selling Tubercular Christmans Seals in the lobby of Keiths T...

Photoprint by National Photo Co. No. 17079.

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

Babe Ruth at Brodts.

Babe Ruth at Brodts.

[Mrs. Babe Ruth, nee Helen Woodford (baseball)]

[Mrs. Babe Ruth, nee Helen Woodford (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

Babe Ruth at Keith's, 12/8/21

Babe Ruth at Keith's, 12/8/21

Babe Ruth, 4/12/22

Babe Ruth, 4/12/22

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth, 4/12/22

Babe Ruth, 4/12/22

Babe Ruth, 3/23/22

Babe Ruth, 3/23/22

The "Babe" in a reflectice [sic] mode, snaped [sic] in the Wash [Washington, D.C.] dugout before the game--President Ban Johnson seems to enjoy the situation

The "Babe" in a reflectice [sic] mode, snaped [sic] in the Wash [Washi...

Babe Ruth and Ban Johnson standing, three-quarter length, smoking cigars. National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress). No. 18451.

Babe Ruth and mascot

Babe Ruth and mascot

[Babe Ruth, New York AL, John McGraw, Nick Altrock and Al Schact, Washington AL, 10/10/1923 (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL, John McGraw, Nick Altrock and Al Schact, Wash...

[Babe Ruth, at opening of Yankee Stadium (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, at opening of Yankee Stadium (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth Shaking Hands With Pres. Warren Harding, at Yankee Stadium 4/24/23; Dr Chas. Sawyer (President's physician) & Albert Lasker also in box (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth Shaking Hands With Pres. Warren Harding, at Yankee Stadium ...

[Babe Ruth & John McGraw, New York NL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth & John McGraw, New York NL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth & Jack Bentley in Giants uniforms for exhibition game; Jack Dunn in middle (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth & Jack Bentley in Giants uniforms for exhibition game; Jack...

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, Bill Edwards, and mascot (baseball)]

[Babe Ruth, Bill Edwards, and mascot (baseball)]

Babe Ruth crossing the plate after making his first home run of the season today

Babe Ruth crossing the plate after making his first home run of the se...

No. 30068. National Photo Company Collection.

Babe Ruth, 5/28/24

Babe Ruth, 5/28/24

Three base ball stars here for the World Series. L. to R: George Sisler, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb

Three base ball stars here for the World Series. L. to R: George Sisle...

Babe Ruth shaking hands with George Sisler and Ty Cobb.

[H.H. Van Loan, a screen playwright, & Babe Ruth, New York AL (baseball)]

[H.H. Van Loan, a screen playwright, & Babe Ruth, New York AL (basebal...

[Yankees Babe Ruth safe at third in fourth inning on Bob Meusel's fly out. Senators third baseman is Ossie Bluege. Senators won 8-1

[Yankees Babe Ruth safe at third in fourth inning on Bob Meusel's fly ...

[Ossie (Oswald Louis) Bluege of the Washington Senators about to tag Babe Ruth sliding into third base]

[Ossie (Oswald Louis) Bluege of the Washington Senators about to tag B...

Secretary of War receives autographed balls and bats from Babe Ruth for citizens military training camps. Babe Ruth started on his annual job today at the Washington Ball Park--shot of autographing hundreds of balls and bats to be awarded as prizes at the Citizens Military Camps all over the country this summer. Secretary of War James W. Good is witnessing the autographing of the first bat

Secretary of War receives autographed balls and bats from Babe Ruth fo...

The Bam still a favorite. Washington D.C. July 7. Although out of baseball for the last few years, "Babe" Ruth still retains his popularity with the millions of baseball fans the country over. With Mrs. Ruth the "Babe" is shown autographing a ball for an admirer at the All-Star game today at Griffith Stadium. 7/7/37

The Bam still a favorite. Washington D.C. July 7. Although out of base...

Photograph of Babe Ruth Sliding into Third Base

Photograph of Babe Ruth Sliding into Third Base

Master File Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Personalities, World Events, and American Economic, Social, and Cultural Life

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

George Herman (Babe) Ruth, Big League Chewing Gum

George Herman (Babe) Ruth, Big League Chewing Gum

A 128515 U.S. Copyright Office Title from item. G.G. Co. c1933. On verso: No. 181. George Herman (Babe) Ruth, New York Yankees. On verso: This is one of a series of 240 Baseball Stars. On verso: Made by the ori... More

George Herman (Babe) Ruth, Big League Chewing Gum

George Herman (Babe) Ruth, Big League Chewing Gum

A 128515 U.S. Copyright Office Title from item. G.G. Co. c1933. On verso: No. 181. George Herman (Babe) Ruth, New York Yankees. On verso: This is one of a series of 240 Baseball Stars. On verso: Made by the ori... More

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, in baseball uniform, holding baseball bat] / Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin.

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, in b...

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, in baseball uniform, holding baseball bat] / Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin.

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, in b...

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, in baseball uniform, holding baseball bat] / Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin.

[Babe Ruth, full-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, in b...

Babe Ruth, King of Swat, at St. Petersburg, Florida

Babe Ruth, King of Swat, at St. Petersburg, Florida

George Herman "Babe" Ruth, full length, standing, facing front; wearing baseball uniform; in field with hands on hips; other players in background. JO 6672 U.S. Copyright Office. Title from item. No. 32598.

Babe Ruth, King of Swat, at St. Petersburg, Florida

Babe Ruth, King of Swat, at St. Petersburg, Florida

George Herman "Babe" Ruth, full length, standing, facing front; wearing baseball uniform; in field with hands on hips; other players in background. JO 6672 U.S. Copyright Office. Title from item. No. 32598.

Babe Ruth He is a home run guy - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth He is a home run guy - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth He is a home run guy - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth He is a home run guy - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth He is a home run guy - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth He is a home run guy - Baseball sheet music.

[Babe Ruth, Ernie Shore, Rube Foster, Del Gainer, Boston Red Sox, American League]

[Babe Ruth, Ernie Shore, Rube Foster, Del Gainer, Boston Red Sox, Amer...

Photograph shows George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Ernest G. "Ernie" Shore, George "Rube" Foster, and Dellos "Del" Gainer, facing front, wearing Boston Red Sox baseball team uniforms, sitting on a low wall in front of... More

[Babe Ruth, Ernie Shore, Rube Foster, Del Gainer, Boston Red Sox, American League]

[Babe Ruth, Ernie Shore, Rube Foster, Del Gainer, Boston Red Sox, Amer...

Photograph shows George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Ernest G. "Ernie" Shore, George "Rube" Foster, and Dellos "Del" Gainer, facing front, wearing Boston Red Sox baseball team uniforms, sitting on a low wall in front of... More

Babe Ruth rolls 'em down a new groove

Babe Ruth rolls 'em down a new groove

Photograph shows George Herman "Babe" Ruth, half-length portrait, seated, facing slightly right, rolling a cigar. Title from item. Caption continues: The World's champion home-run slugger has entered the cigar ... More

Babe Ruth rolls 'em down a new groove

Babe Ruth rolls 'em down a new groove

Photograph shows George Herman "Babe" Ruth, half-length portrait, seated, facing slightly right, rolling a cigar. Title from item. Caption continues: The World's champion home-run slugger has entered the cigar ... More

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.

Babe Ruth - Baseball sheet music.