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Babe Ruth, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, is being celebrated today, April 27, 2021. This baseball legend broke records and made history in his 22-year span as an American baseball professional.
He was born George Herman Ruth Jr., on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was 7 years old, he attended St. Mary, a Catholic middle school for boys. This is where Babe Ruth got his start in baseball.
In 1914, he was mentored by Brother Matthias Boutilier, the disciplinarian of the school who was also a skilled baseball player. Originally, he was enlisted to play within the minor league, but it was not long before his contract was sold to the Red Sox.
Babe Ruth established a name for himself by 1916 as the exceptional pitcher who hit long home runs, an achievement uncommon during this “dead-ball era.”
Even though he acquired greatness as a pitcher for the Red Sox, he wanted to play more, so he was allowed to change to an outfield position which gave him consistent playing time.
In 1919, he broke the MLB single-season home run record and was sold to the New York Yankees shortly after. His career with the Yankees lasted 15 years. During this period of time, he helped the team win seven American League pennants and four World Series championships.
Babe Ruth, the greatest player of all time, so it is said, in a whites-only league, but was he really Black? Speculation that he was a negro had been buzzing around for years. Babe Ruth denied these rumors because during this era, having an ounce of Black blood could result in being hung.
He was teased for his wide nose and full lips. His childhood nickname was “Niggerlips.”
These suspicions were never substantiated, and he lived as a white man and profited from its privilege his entire life.
Babe Ruth made an incredible mark in baseball history. He died from nasopharyngeal cancer in 1948 but remained a part of American culture. Today is his day — rightfully so — the legendary Babe Ruth deserves to be celebrated.
Written by Sharri Rogers
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Source:
Black Enterprise: Was Babe Ruth Black? By Selena Hill
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Dennis Sylvester Hurd’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Thomas Scibilia’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License