April 27 – Babe Ruth Day

Posted on April 27, 2015


Ruth was not only nicknamed "Babe,"
but he had other nicknames, too, such
as "The Bambino" and "the Sultan of
Swat."
George Herman Ruth, also known as Babe Ruth, was born in February (1895) and died in August (1948). So why is April 27 considered Babe Ruth Day?

First, you have to know that Babe Ruth was extremely important – popular, famous, well-paid, a character. You might even say that he was a legend in his own time. He remains one of the biggest sports heroes in American culture and some say he was the greatest baseball player of all time.

That's why, when he was diagnosed with throat cancer in late 1946, fans wanted news about his health, and the Yankee team organized Babe Ruth Day on this date in 1947. He ended up speaking to a crowd of more than 58,000 fans at Yankee Stadium.

According to The New York Times, Just before he spoke, Ruth started to cough and it appeared that he might break down because of the thunderous cheers that came his way. But once he started to talk, he was all right, still the champion. It was the many men who surrounded him on the field, players, newspaper and radio persons, who choked up.”


Ruth's life by the numbers:
Age he went away to a Roman Catholic reformatory school: 7 years old.

Age he signed his first professional baseball contract: 19 years old.

Age he died: 53 years old.


Record breaking number of home runs in one season: 60 home runs.

Number of years Ruth's home run record stood: 34 years.
(But the record was broken when Major League Baseball had 8 more games per season!)

Record breaking number of career home runs: 714 home runs.

Number of years career home runs record stood: 39 years.


Salary per year (as of 1930): $80,000 per year.
(The President of the United States only made $75,000 that years.)

Top salary corrected for inflation: about one million dollars per year.
(Note: top baseball stars these days earn $20 million to almost $30 million per year! So Ruth was underpaid, by today's standards; if he were playing and dominating today he would probably be able to ask $25 to $30 million per year.)


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