One could make a strong case for Willie Mays, Lou Gerhig, Ted Williams Joe Diamagio, Hank Aaron or even Barry Bonds. Of course, Bonds is always going to have a stigma attached to him because of the steroid allegations. I'm personally convinced that Bonds did juice up and perhaps it did contribute to some extra home runs in his record breaking career. But as steroids will undoubtedly make you stronger, they do not give you the ability to hit a baseball. You have to have the natural ability first. With that being said, I think that there should be an asterisk on Bonds' home run record.
And let's talk about the guy who's record was broken by Bonds. Henry Aaron was one of the most naturally gifted players ever to grace the baseball diamond. Although he never hit more than 47 homeruns in a single season, Hank Aaron was a model of consistency finishing his career with a record 755 long balls. This record stood for thirty-three years. Hank also made twenty-one straight all-star teams as well as earning three Gold Gloves. And keep in mind that when Aaron entered the Major Leagues in 1954, there was still tremendous racial tension he had to deal with. He obviously persevered and that's a true testament to the kind of man he was. I saw an interview with Aaron's wife many years ago. She spoke of Hank with a gleam in her eye as she said, "You know, Henry was a good ball player. But he was a better father." In my book, that makes him a Hall of Famer at life.....
Again, we could make a strong case for either of these guys, as well as numerous others. But I'll cut right to the chase and tell you that there's no doubt in my mind that George Herman Ruth was the greatest baseball player ever. You can try but you will not convince me otherwise. So, let me make my case, and you can make yours....
First off, my decision has nothing to do with the fact that I grew up the Babe's hometown of Baltimore. It also has nothing to do with my attendance of Cardinal Gibbons High School, the site of the old St. Mary's Industrial School where Ruth was introduced to baseball. But it makes for good conversation...
In 1920 and 1921, Ruth had an unbelievable .846 slugging percentage! Barry Bonds did indeed break this record 2001, but come on. The only performance enhancing substance in the Babe's bloodstream was cholesterol. And consider this, in Ruth's early days with the Yankees, he played his home games at the Polo Grounds where the center-field fence was nearly five hundred feet from home plate! And if the fair ball curved around the foul pole and landed in foul territory back then, it was not a home run. It's estimated that if modern rules were implemented in 1921, Ruth would have jacked 104 more home runs!
And until Lou Gerhig came around, pitchers would often pitch around Ruth. No surprise, he often led the league in bases on balls. On one of the many occasions when he got a hold of one, it was an amazing thing to witness. On July 18, 1921 at Detroit's Navin Field, Ruth blasted one into intersection beyond the stadium walls. This shot was measured at 575 feet, the longest recorded homerun in history. They didn't call him The Sultan of Swat for nothing!
The Babe had a lifetime batting average of .342. Most of today's best players don't even bat that high in a single season. And while you're digesting that, Ruth also had 123 career stolen bases! And he stole home ten times! Pretty impressive for a 300 pound man. By the way, the legendary Yankee pinstripes were introduced in an effort to make the Bambino look thinner.
Are you guys still with me? Please don't leave, it gets better......
When Ruth started his major league career in Boston, his plate appearances were limited. Why? Because he was a pitcher! He was a twenty game winner twice (1916 & 1917). To put this in perspective, Mike Mussina, who many consider to be the second greatest Oriole pitcher, only won twenty games in a season once. Along the same lines, the Baltimore Oriole's haven't had a 20-game winner in almost 30 years!
Ruth also won two games in the 1918 World Series and extending his consecutive scoreless Series innings streak to 29 and 2/3. A record that stood until it was broken by Whitey Ford in 1961.
Ruth pitched nine shut-outs in 1916. This was an American League record for left-handers which stood until 1978 when it was finally equalled by Ron Guidry.
Walter "The Big Train" Johnson is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He had 417 career wins (second to only Cy Young) and a lifetime Earned Run Average of 2.17. He also had 110 career shutouts, a record that still stands today. Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson opposed each other as pitchers on five occasions. Ruth won four of those games.
In 1918, Walter Johnson amazingly only allowed two home-runs the entire season. Babe Ruth hit both of them. I think we know who owned the bragging rights between those two guys!
Babe Ruth finished his pitching career with a 2.28 lifetime ERA. Today's pitchers dream of an ERA like that...
Babe Ruth was also known for his off-the field antics. In 1930, a reporter asked Ruth how he could justify making more money than President Hoover. Ruth responded, "I had a better year than Hoover."
When Babe Ruth was born, they broke the mold. He changed the game forever with his astonishing statistics and charismatic personality. And as a result, people came out in record numbers to see him play. If I could have one sports wish, it would be to go to Yankee Stadium in the 1920's where I would grab a couple of hot dogs and a beer, then watch The Great Bambino knock one out of the park!
There will never be another one like him.......
kw
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