The Legend Looms Large

   On February 6, 1895 an event occured that no one in the Sports world seemed to notice. Even those in Baltimore, Maryland paid litttle heed to this event in the dead of winter. It was on that day that Catherine Schamberger Ruth presented her Solonkeeper husband George, a son. The newborn was named George Herman Ruth. Little George quickly grew into a trouble maker, even at the young age of six. His parents sent him to a school for boys in hopes that he would straighten up. The one thing that he did find was that he enjoyed playing Baseball. At the age of 18 he was signed to a contact with the local Baltimore Orioles. In Spring training camp he was tagged with his famous nickname "Babe".
 
   After half a season with the Orioles pitcher Babe Ruths' contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox. On July 11, 1914 Ruth made his Major League debut against the Cleveland Naps. A month later he was back in the minors, this time with the Providence Grays. On September 5, in a game in Toronto Ruth pitched a 9-0 shutout. During this game he hit his one and only minor league home run, a three run shot.

   In 1915 Ruth made the big club for good. A Hall of Fame career was underway. In May of 1918 Red Sox management finally gave in to the idea of letting Ruth play in the field when he was not pitching. On December 26, 1919 the Sultan of Swat was sold to the New York Yankees. The Yankees until then were an average team. With the addition of the Babe the appearances in the World Series started coming. By 1925 when Lou Gehrig arrived Ruth teamed with the new first baseman to provide the Yanks lineup with a solid 1, 2 punch. Ruth played with the Yankees through the 1934 season. Among those many wonderful seasons was the great Yankee season of 1927. The Babe played only part of the 1935 season with the Boston Braves before retiring on May 30.

   I could very easily write so much more on Babe Ruth however it would take a book or two to describe the pure greatness of this legendary man. Happy Birthday Babe.

 Tomorrow we will look at baseball in 1954.