The First Superstar Athlete
Baseball had existed in America for decades by the time Babe Ruth first held a bat, but the game had never before seen anyone grow to the same fame he did. Earning several nicknames, such as the “Sultan of Swat,” Ruth’s unprecedented celebrity status as an athlete transformed the way fans viewed baseball forever.
This wasn’t all talk, though, as he spent nearly his whole career shattering records—until his disturbing lifestyle caught up to him.
1. He Had A Tragic Childhood
Born on February 6, 1895, George Herman Ruth Jr had a rough start in the world. For one, the Ruth family was cursed with tragedy. Though he was one of eight children, only Ruth and his sister Mamie survived infancy. But this was only the tip of the iceberg. Growing up in Baltimore proved difficult for young Ruth, especially since he had a penchant for troublemaking.
Irwin, La Broad, & Pudlin., Wikimedia Commons
2. He Was A Wild Delinquent
Later in life, Babe Ruth confessed that he was quite wild in his youth. According to his own account, he played hooky, adventured through the streets on his own, and even took up drinking behind his parents' backs. Some accounts claim that his parents neglected him, while others purport that he grew up in a toxic environment.
Whatever the reasons might have been, Ruth turned out to be quite a delinquent—and the consequences were harrowing.
Frances P. Burke, Wikimedia Commons
3. His Parents Sent Him Away
Perhaps out of necessity, or perhaps because his parents wanted to straighten him up, Ruth was ultimately sent to St Mary's Industrial School for Boys in 1902. He was only seven years old, but over the next 12 years, he earned himself an awful reputation—and was even described as "incorrigible".
Sadly, life at this reformatory was no child's idea of fun.
Unknown over 100 years ago, Wikimedia Commons
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
4. They Straightened Him Up
Though St Mary's provided young Ruth with an education, the institution also put him to work—and he developed skills in both carpentry and shirtmaking. Unfortunately, the environment of the school itself was often suffocating. Ruth had to bend to its strict expectations and endure its brutal punishments whenever he stepped out of line.
But this wasn't even the worst part.
Topical Press Agency, Getty Images
5. He Became A Target
Even getting along with his peers was a struggle for Ruth. His darker complexion made him a target, as most of the boys at the school had fair skin. Ruth undoubtedly stood out from the crowd, and consequently, he felt the harsh sting of prejudiced name-calling throughout his time there. However, it wasn't just his classmates who caused him pain.
Charles M. Conlon, Wikimedia Commons
6. His Parents Seldom Visited Him
It was very clear that Ruth's family wanted very little to do with him, as they seldom visited him. St Mary's became his undeniable home. According to some reports, he was only given permission to leave the reformatory for one tragic reason: His mother's funeral. Thankfully, though, there was one silver lining—and it had the power to change his life forever.
Paul Thompson, NY, Wikimedia Commons
7. His Love Of Baseball Changed His Life
Enter: Baseball. Now, once again, the details surrounding how Babe Ruth officially began playing baseball remain murky. According to one report, Ruth had an affinity for the sport long before he ended up at St Mary's, and had a terrible habit of smashing windows while playing baseball on the streets. Another account, however, suggests that St Mary's athletic director encouraged Ruth to join a baseball team on his very first day there.
Whatever the truth might be, there was one person, in particular, who had an unforgettable impact on Ruth.
Charles M. Conlon, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Had An Unforgettable Mentor
Though some reports of Ruth's time at St Mary's are undeniably bleak, they're also swirled in with some very hopeful stories. Brother Matthia Boutlier, the Prefect of Discipline, had a profound and positive influence on Ruth. He was a man who commanded respect, and whose mentorship meant a great deal to many of the boys.
Speaking about Brother Matthias, Ruth later said, "I think I was born as a hitter the first day I ever saw him hit a baseball". At the time, though, he had no clue that he would reach such heights in the athletic world.
9. He Could Do Better
Ruth didn’t exactly have his pick of the litter when it came to what position he played, and often was stuck as a shortstop or catcher with right-handed mitts, despite being left-handed. This was until Brother Matthias Boutlier caught him laughing at the team’s pitchers from the sidelines and dared him to do any better.
This was all the push he needed.
Charles M. Conlon, Wikimedia Commons
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
10. He Rose To The Top
Ruth spent the rest of his school career devoting most of his attention to baseball, and by the time he turned 18, he had already become the best pitcher in school. In fact, although St Mary’s was very strict about when its students could leave the premises, the teachers allowed Ruth to play on local community teams on weekends.
This led to some big opportunities.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
11. He Caught His Eye
Ruth’s exceptional talent drew the attention of many, including Jack Dunn, owner of the Baltimore Orioles. While it’s unclear how exactly Dunn became aware of Ruth, he saw how good he was and quickly signed him to a contract. Unfortunately, Ruth was meant to attend St Mary’s until he was 21, but Dunn likely had him discharged early at 19.
This, of course, was only the beginning.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Got A Nickname
Within a surprisingly short time, Ruth had signed with a minor-league team and was leaving Baltimore for his first time ever. As the team’s rookie, he was no stranger to frequent teasing from his teammates, including them giving him a nickname. Since he was Jack Dunn’s newest player, they often called him “Dunnie's babe,” or sometimes just “Babe”.
Unfortunately, the team hadn’t quite found its groove.
National Photo Company, Wikimedia Commons
13. They Were Overlooked
Ruth may have had the reputation of an inexperienced rookie, but once he made his debut on the Orioles, he showed them exactly why he was there. Had the media been there, they would have reported on his swift rise to becoming one of the team’s most integral players, whether pitching or batting. However, the local press seemed fairly dismissive of the Orioles.
Little did Ruth realize, this was a harbinger of doom for this particular chapter of his career.
14. He Had No Choice
By June 1914, the Orioles had improved and were winning an average of about two-thirds of their games, rising to first place in the league. However, none of this mattered if they didn’t have any money, and with attendance dropping lower and lower by the day, Dunn had to make an impossible and distressing choice.
15. He Was Sold
Dunn ultimately had to sell his best players, which meant that Ruth had to move on, whether he wanted to or not. Unfortunately, the search for Ruth’s new team wasn’t easy, and several major leagues were in the running to buy his contract, including the recent World Series winners—the Philadelphia Athletics.
After entertaining a couple more offers, Dunn finally settled on a deal with what became Ruth’s new team, the Boston Red Sox. This major change also led to a chance encounter.
George Grantham Bain, Wikimedia Commons
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
16. He Met Someone Special
Eager to start on his new Major League team, Ruth arrived in Boston on July 11, 1914, but paused to grab a bite to eat. While stopping in at Landers Coffee Shop, he met a waitress by the name of Helen Woodford, who served him breakfast. The two quickly became smitten with each other, and he would visit the coffee shop frequently going forward.
On that day, though, he still had other things to take care of.
The Stanley Weston Archive, Getty Images
17. He Made An Entrance
Ruth’s mind may have still been on his encounter with Helen, but as soon as he stepped onto the field later that day, he immediately locked in. Although he didn’t stand out as much on the Red Sox, with them being a Major League team and all, his first game was as good a start as any. Against the Cleveland Naps, he and the rest of the team won 4–3.
Soon enough, Ruth believed he was ready for a commitment.
International Newsreel, Wikimedia Commons
18. He Asked Her
Both Ruth and Helen were quite young, with Helen being two years younger than Ruth. Ruth also had a new Major League career to face—but he didn’t care. After courting each other for a few months, he visited the coffee shop just as he had many times before. However, this time, he brought a ring with him and proposed on the spot, to which she happily said yes.
Meanwhile, he learned what it was like to be a hotshot baseball player—a lifestyle that just so happened to come with certain vices.
Unknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons
19. He Fell Into A Lifestyle
St Mary’s had done their best to straighten out Ruth’s more troublesome tendencies, but this only went so far. Now that he was making the kind of money that comes with playing in the Major League, he had everything he could want. He would eat the finest food, drink the most expensive spirits, and he developed some more unhealthy—and unfaithful—habits.
Ironically, around this time, he also made a serious promise.
Cleveland Public Library, Wikimedia Commons
20. They Made Their Vows
The Red Sox finished the season on a high note, and without that taking up his time, Ruth turned his focus back to Helen. The two returned to Maryland and married on October 17, 1914, but not back home in Baltimore. This was likely to avoid any hurdles, as Ruth was still technically supposed to be in school, and Helen was 16 years old.
On the baseball field, Ruth was proving he was more than meets the eye.
Pathe Freres, Wikimedia Commons
21. He Defied Expectations
By 1915, Ruth had made such a name for himself as a pitcher that Red Sox manager Bill Carrigan would have been a fool not to put him in the starting rotation. So he did, and he quickly discovered it was the right choice since, aside from his pitching talent, Ruth became known for his long home runs.
Of course, this wasn’t the only kind of reputation he had.
Bain News Service, publisher, Wikimedia Commons
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
22. He Lashed Out
During the 1917 season, the Red Sox were just shy of finishing first in the league, and Ruth demonstrated how much of a pro he was. Regrettably, his professionalism didn’t always dictate his actions. On June 23, in response to umpire Clarence Owens booting him from that game, Ruth aimed a punch at the man, which resulted in a suspension and a $100 fine.
Sadly, the whole world was in for a shift.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
23. They Had To Go
Over the next couple of years, Ruth defended his reputation as baseball’s best left-handed pitcher, although the pool of his rivals would soon shrink. With the beginning of the 1917 season came America’s entry into WWI, which meant that every Major League player 21 and older was subject to the draft by the end of the year.
Ruth was intent on doing as much as possible while he could still play.
24. He Wanted To Change Things Up
As more and more players had their numbers called and left overseas, Ruth thought he could fill some of the open positions, as he had tired of his current schedule. However, the new Red Sox manager, Ed Barrow, recognized Ruth’s major superiority as a pitcher and wasn’t willing to gamble on placing him in other positions.
Thankfully, someone had Ruth’s back.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Asked For Advice
Barrow was stubborn in his decision, but at the same time, he had little experience as a baseball manager. Using the resources at hand, he asked for the counsel of Red Sox player Harry Hooper, who convinced the manager to allow Ruth to play other positions on the days he wasn’t pitching. This turned out to be worth the risk.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Was Integral
Ruth carried the Red Sox during the 1918 World Series, and although he injured his hand shortly before Game Four, they did everything to keep him in the game. This was a wise choice, and he brought them to a three-to-one lead, giving them the momentum and morale to secure their third World Series win in four years.
Even with his skill, he took a break to do his duty.
27. He Stayed Out Of It
WWI was still raging on, which caused the 1918 baseball season to be different from previous ones. The government had ordered that any qualified players would have to choose between the army or working in a critical industry, and the league shortened the season as a result. After the World Series, Ruth took the latter option and got a job in a Pennsylvania steel mill.
Little did he know, fate had another curveball in store for him.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
28. He Left Again
The time for Ruth to change teams again was coming close, but it wasn’t due to lack of attendance this time, as his home runs had drawn in an unprecedented crowd. However, everyone wanted to sign Ruth, and Red Sox owner Harry Frazee may have been hurting for cash, which forced him to sell Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919.
But this wasn't the only dramatic change in Ruth's life.
George Grantham Bain, Wikimedia Commons
29. Their Family Grew
By 1921, Ruth and Helen had been married for seven years, but their relationship was hardly full of love and happiness. They had tried to start a family four different times, but tragically, each of Helen’s pregnancies was lost. They were still determined to have a child, though, and instead adopted a daughter named Dorothy that year.
Still, Helen was far from satisfied with their marriage.
30. She Knew What He Was Up To
While losing her pregnancies was devastating, it wasn’t the only source of misery in Helen and Ruth’s marriage. When Ruth wasn’t being dismissive of Helen at home, he was more often away with work, and she wasn’t oblivious to what he got up to. Rumors of his infidelity caused a lot of tension between them and led Helen to have regular breakdowns.
This all culminated in one decision by Ruth.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
31. He Pushed Her To The Edge
Even though Helen’s frequent nervous breakdowns had landed her in the hospital numerous times, Ruth didn’t see fit to change his philandering ways. In fact, he entered another affair in 1923 with his secretary, Claire Hodgson. While Helen and Ruth’s catholic beliefs forbade them from divorcing, this affair was what finally pushed her to separate from him in 1925.
Of course, his poor decisions went beyond his tumultuous personal life.
Harris & Ewing, photographer, Wikimedia Commons
32. He Lost His Temper
Ruth took a leadership position right before the 1922 season, assuming the role of the Yankees’ on-field captain. This was short-lived, however, as during one game, Ruth did the unthinkable: He flew into a rage and threw some dust in the umpire's face before storming the stands to fight a heckler. Apart from being kicked out, Ruth’s title of captain was subsequently taken away.
Finally, the higher-ups knew they had to do something.
Underwood & Underwood, Wikimedia Commons
33. They Put Him In His Place
Knowing that someone needed to step in before it was too late, the Yankees team support worked with Ruth’s agent to bring him to a banquet at the Elks Club after the season ended. There, they all leveled with him about his behavior and urged him to make some significant changes. Faced with his shortcomings, Ruth broke down and promised to do better.
Of course, his career wasn’t all doom and gloom at this point.
Paul Thompson, Wikimedia Commons
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
34. He Was The First
The following year, Ruth saw the creation of one of baseball’s most sacred grounds as construction was completed on Yankee Stadium. Luckily, this allowed them to play the home opener there in April, when, for a sea of raving spectators, he hit the stadium’s first home run. As a result, Yankee Stadium received the nickname “The House that Ruth Built”.
Unfortunately, there was one tragic aspect of Ruth's life that held him back in a major way.
International Newsreel, New York., Wikimedia Commons
35. He Passed Out
Where Ruth had previously enjoyed unhealthy quantities of food and drink, he got into shape following his Elks Club intervention. However, he returned to his indulgent lifestyle only a few years later, causing him to develop intestinal issues in 1925. But this was only the beginning of the nightmare.
You see, though Ruth briefly bounced back, he ultimately relapsed, leading to a very scary incident where he fell unconscious in his hotel room and ended up in the hospital. Still, he hadn’t finished fighting yet.
Paul Thompson, Wikimedia Commons
36. He Came Back
Taking his hospital stay as another wake-up call, Ruth took time between seasons to work on his health again, frequently exercising under the training of Artie McGovern. By the 1926 season, he was back to being strong and fit enough to play the season and finish with 47 home runs and 146 RBIs.
Of course, that wasn’t even his biggest accomplishment that year.
Paul Thompson, Wikimedia Commons
37. He Made A Promise
Prior to the 1926 World Series, an 11-year-old boy named Johnny Sylvester sadly had an accident while horseback riding. To lift his spirits in the hospital, a family friend gave him two baseballs signed by several Yankees and Cardinals players. With his signature, Ruth passed along his promise to hit a home run for the boy, which he did—three times in Game Four.
At this point, the Yankees’ reputation alone practically won their games for them.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
38. They Were Discouraged
The following season saw players like Lou Gehrig and Earle Combs join Ruth for a lineup that fans would forever consider one of the best in history. In that year’s World Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates immediately lost their resolve just from watching the Yankees’ batting practice, which was understandable as New York proceeded to wipe the floor with them.
39. He Lost His Wife
Following Helen’s separation from Ruth, she began a relationship with a man named Edward Kinder and moved into his home in Massachusetts. Tragically, on January 10, 1929, she fell victim to a freak fire, which started in the living room and left her unconscious in her bedroom. While the fire department rescued her, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after.
Despite their issues, Ruth still went to see her.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
40. He Confirmed It
Ruth took the passing of Helen quite hard, and seemed shaken to the core as he did what he could to help afterward. Traveling to Boston, he met with Helen’s two sisters, with whom he identified his late wife’s body. The press was waiting for his reaction, and when asked, his response was heartbreaking: "Boys, I'm in a terrible fix. The shock has been a very great one to me. Please let my wife alone. Let her stay dead. That's all I've got to say".
However, this was not the end of the story. In the wake of Helen's loss, a controversy erupted.
National Photo Company, Wikimedia Commons
41. Her Family Suspected Him
You see, Helen's family wasn't so sure her demise was an accident, and even suspected foul play. Her brother Thomas woefully wondered, "What is there to prove the house wasn't fired? What is there to prove that she wasn't murdered?" Though the autopsy reports proved that Helen had perished due to suffocation and burns, those closest to her still weren't convinced. What's more?
They pointed fingers of blame at her estranged husband, Babe Ruth.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
42. They Had Their Eyes On Him
Quite scandalously, Helen's family made some dark claims about Ruth, even alleging that while Helen was still alive, she was afraid of him. Based on what Helen's niece shared, this seemed to be a popular belief amongst family members.
Patricia Grace revealed, "Aunt Helen was in fear for her life because Babe Ruth wanted a divorce because he was carrying on with women. Of course, we were a Catholic family and she would not divorce. He was trying to get rid of her..."
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
43. He Married His Mistress
In the end, there was no evidence to back up these distressing claims made against Ruth. Still, he was now free to marry—and just three months after Helen met her fiery end, he and his mistress Claire Merrit Hodgson said "I do".
Though Ruth's romantic relationships were both tragic and messy, it turned out that his relationship on the field also had a touch of drama.
44. He Had A Close Teammate
Ruth had grown quite close to his teammate, Lou Gehrig, and as such, the two players’ families often spent time together. However, there was one incident in 1932 that sparked the beginning of a seven-year rift. As the story goes, Gehrig’s mother allegedly criticized Ruth's new wife Claire: "It's a shame [Claire] doesn't dress Dorothy as nicely as she dresses her own daughter".
The situation only spiraled further.
45. They Had A Falling-Out
One way or another, Ruth learned of the comment about his wife and daughters, and he immediately became outraged at the audacity of Lou Gehrig’s mother. In a familiar gut reaction, he told Gehrig that his mother should mind her business. This led to an explosive argument, at the end of which Ruth told Gehrig to never speak to him off the field again.
Of course, Ruth wasn’t a stranger to hostility from others.
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
46. They Were Bitter Rivals
In 1932, the Yankees once again went to the World Series, but this time against a team that they already had animosity towards—the Chicago Cubs. This rivalry had the fans in Chicago worked up, and when the Yankees arrived in the Windy City, Ruth was furious to see him and his teammates receive ridicule from the waiting crowd.
Thankfully, he knew just what to do.
47. He Called His Shot
The taunting of Chicago fans continued into the games, with the crowd often throwing lemons at Ruth from the stands. Irritated and eager to silence their mockery, Ruth stepped up to the plate in Game Three and shocked everyone. According to the stories, he pointed toward center field and hit a home run right in that direction.
While this was one of his most iconic career highs, he was already on a slow decline.
48. He Was Unhealthy
While Ruth continued to work his magic over the next couple of years, nobody could deny that something was different. Despite numerous attempts to get healthier, he had always returned to his damaging lifestyle, and it began to show more and more. By 1934, he could still hit home runs, but anything more energy-consuming was out of the question.
It was clear he was on his last legs.
New York Times Co., Getty Images
49. He Was Traded
Unable to play with the same vigor that he used to, Ruth looked for other ways he could serve the Yankees, such as in management. However, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert rejected him multiple times, and eventually wanted to move him to another team. So, he negotiated a deal with the Boston Braves and traded Ruth to them on February 26, 1935.
Judging from his performance, this was the right choice.
Photographer of Bain News Service, Wikimedia Commons
50. He Was Finished
Ruth only accepted his new allegiance to the Braves as they had implied the chance of him eventually becoming the team’s manager. However, this chance never came, and on the field, he quickly became more of a liability than an asset. In the end, only a couple of months into the season, he begrudgingly accepted that he could no longer play and retired on June 2, 1935.
Thankfully, one good thing came along.
New York Times Co., Getty Images
51. They Worked Things Out
Since their fight, Ruth and Lou Gehrig had indeed refused to speak to each other—until they found a little perspective. After Gehrig’s ALS diagnosis, he also had no choice but to retire, but the Yankees were sure to honor him in 1939 with Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day. There, during the festivities, Ruth and Gehrig reconciled their issues and became friends again.
Meanwhile, Ruth was still having his own health issues.
Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Inc, Wikimedia Commons
History's most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily.
52. He Visited The Doctor
By this point, many of Ruth’s health problems had stemmed from how he was treating his body—specifically his stomach. However, he started to experience a frightening issue in 1946, when he visited the hospital complaining of difficulty swallowing and pain in his left eye. Sadly, he wasn’t worrying over nothing, and the doctors discovered an inoperable malignant tumor in his neck.
They did their best to treat him.
53. He Got Better
Fortunately, Ruth had grown to such fame and influence that he was able to receive every kind of treatment available. Over the next year, he underwent drug and radiation treatment, and there’s a chance he was the first patient ever to receive chemotherapy using pterolyl triglutamate. By the summer of 1947, he had improved enough to travel around America.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a permanent fix.
54. It Didn’t Last
While it appeared there was a chance of Ruth’s cancer going into remission and him making a recovery, he soon started to decline again before the end of the year. While he continued to travel to different cities across the US, he needed a lot of assistance, and his condition worsened so much that he could no longer even help create his autobiography.
Luckily, he got to say goodbye one last time.
55. He Saw It One More Time
Through the rest of 1947 and into the next year, Ruth attended various book signings and other promotional events, but was also able to receive one last honor before it was too late. On June 13, 1948, he made one final appearance at “The House that Ruth Built,” when Yankee Stadium celebrated its 25th anniversary.
At the end, his impact on the world was evident.
56. They Showed Up
When Ruth had no further strength to travel, he resigned himself to a bed at Memorial Hospital, knowing the end was near. He wasn’t the only one who suspected this, as thousands of fans gathered outside the hospital for support. Though he wasn't initially told about his cancer diagnosis, he ultimately learned the truth—and he sadly passed on August 16.
If this show of devotion wasn’t enough to demonstrate the profound legacy that Babe Ruth had created, his casket also saw over 77,000 visitors as it sat displayed at Yankee Stadium.
Nathaniel Fein, Wikimedia Commons
You May Also Like:
Steve Jobs Was A Complicated Genius
