<P> George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr . (February 6, 1895--August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935 . Nicknamed "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", he began his MLB career as a stellar left - handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees . Ruth established many MLB batting (and some pitching) records, including career home runs (714), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), slugging percentage (. 690), and on - base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164); the latter two still stand today . Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time . In 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its "first five" inaugural members . </P> <P> At age seven, Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory where he learned life lessons and baseball skills from Brother Matthias Boutlier of the Christian Brothers, the school's disciplinarian and a capable baseball player . In 1914, Ruth was signed to play minor - league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles but was soon sold to the Red Sox . By 1916, he had built a reputation as an outstanding pitcher who sometimes hit long home runs, a feat unusual for any player in the pre-1920 dead - ball era . Although Ruth twice won 23 games in a season as a pitcher and was a member of three World Series championship teams with Boston, he wanted to play every day and was allowed to convert to an outfielder . With regular playing time, he broke the MLB single - season home run record in 1919 . </P> <P> After that season, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy . The trade fueled Boston's subsequent 86 year championship drought and popularized the "Curse of the Bambino" superstition . In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth helped the team win seven American League (AL) championships and four World Series championships . His big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only drew fans to the ballpark and boosted the sport's popularity but also helped usher in baseball's live - ball era, which evolved from a low - scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor . As part of the Yankees' vaunted "Murderer's Row" lineup of 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, which extended his MLB single - season record . Ruth's last season with the Yankees was 1934; he retired from the game the following year, after a short stint with the Boston Braves . During his career, Ruth led the AL in home runs during a season twelve times . </P> <P> Ruth's legendary power and charismatic personality made him a larger - than - life figure during the Roaring Twenties . During his career, he was the target of intense press and public attention for his baseball exploits and off - field penchants for drinking and womanizing . His often reckless lifestyle was tempered by his willingness to do good by visiting children at hospitals and orphanages . After his retirement as a player, he was denied a managerial job in baseball, most likely due to poor behavior during parts of his playing career . In his final years, Ruth made many public appearances, especially in support of American efforts in World War II . In 1946, he became ill with cancer, which claimed his life two years later . </P>

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