6. Babe Ruth: The Greatest Baseball Player

Arguably the greatest Major League Baseball player of time is George Herman Ruth. The "Babe," as was known, is largely responsible for building the as it exists today. The stadium where he in New York is commonly called "The House Ruth Built." Ruth played baseball for 22 years the Boston Red Sox, and the New York , where he rewrote the record books. He almost -handedly invented the home run, which is baseball's most feat. Before Ruth, the home run was a . It was a game of strategy, but the changed all that.

Ruth was born in a section of Baltimore, Maryland in 1895. Much of childhood has been lost to history. He spent number of years at St. Mary's reformatory school being labeled as "incorrigible." His behavior was thought be beyond rehabilitation. When exactly he got his in baseball is also a mystery. Some accounts that he was placed on St. Mary's baseball by the coach of the time. One popular has Ruth being sent to the school because his natural ability to hit a baseball. The is that Ruth broke many windows while playing on the streets, and that is why he sent to the school in the first place.

the 1920s, baseball was a slow game that advancing players around the bases by strategically hitting ball within the park. Ruth came in and soon hitting balls out of the ballpark to delight of the fans in attendance. The home became an integral part of the game. Ruth several nicknames because of his power, including the "," and the "Sultan of Swat."

When Ruth was by the Red Sox to the Yankees in very unpopular move, the Yankees won seven World championships in his 12 years. Ruth made headlines his after-hours antics in New York City as . His drinking, and womanizing are well-documented. However, Ruth a spiritual man who lived-out his years as devout Catholic.