Babe Ruth is a painting by Gregory Perillo which was uploaded on August 12th, 2014.
Babe Ruth
Around the world, no American athlete is more famous or has higher name recognition than Babe Ruth. Known to most simply as The Babe, Ruths... more
Title
Babe Ruth
Artist
Gregory Perillo
Medium
Painting - Oil On Canvas
Description
Around the world, no American athlete is more famous or has higher name recognition than Babe Ruth. Known to most simply as The Babe, Ruths professional exploits on the baseball field so far surpassed the other players of this day that he was considered bigger than life itself. He was the first superstar we ever knew.
As a young teenager, Babe Ruths unusual athletic ability was readily recognized. Quickly breaking into the Major Leagues as a left handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, he was a two-time 20 game winner (1916-1917). His overall pitching record was 94 wins/46 losses with a 2.28 ERA. He was 3-0 in the World Series with an ERA of 0.87. His fielding was also magnificent at virtually every position. Impressive throwing and defensive talents were eventually overshadowed by awesome hitting which came into full bloom after being traded to the New York Yankees in 1920 for $100,000.
Over the next fourteen years, The Bambino led the American League thirteen times in slugging average, twelve times in home runs, six times in RBIs and one time in batting average (.378 in 1924). In 1927, he slugged 60 home runs and he hit fifty or more round trippers three other years. In total, he smashed 714 homeruns and had a lifetime batting average of .342. Ruth remains the all-time career leader in walks (2,056) and slugging average (.692). He led the Yankees to four World Series championships and is among the top five all-time World Series leaders in runs, home runs, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage. His success was so thorough and his leadership so great that the then new Yankee Stadium became known as The House That Ruth Built
These athletic feats put The Sultan of Swat into a class by himself and raised the game of baseball to a new level. However, America loved Babe Ruth the person, not just Babe Ruth the ballplayer. He had a huge heart with an unlimited amount of compassion for those who were less fortunate than he. With kids, the relationship was very special. He made countless trips to see kids in hospitals many times doing this during the break between double-headers. While the Yankees manager was pulling his hair out wondering where the Babe was, sick kids were getting hugs and a promise of a home run if they listened to the radio. While many of these stories achieved a fiction-like quality, those who were there swear they are true. The Babe always delivered on a promise.
In the twilight of his career, after having been traded to the Boston Braves in 1935, Babe Ruth was having a particularly bad game, going 0-4 and striking out three times. With his last swing and miss, head held low, he walked slowly towards the dugout. Suddenly, a little boy darted up and said, Its OK Babe, we love you! Babe Ruth picked up the child, held him high on his shoulder and together they briskly strode to the Braves bench. The crowd went wild! Our feelings are exactly the same today. No one was better than The Babe.
Uploaded
August 12th, 2014
