*Babe Ruth Thread*

[SHOELESSJOE3]

You started with a good one. Perhaps on a short list for many as one of the greatest sports biographies ever written.

After that definitely Smelser and then Wagenheim. Those are the big three if you will. I would suggest reading Creamer and Smelser a second time actually.

Then I would recommend

Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox
Launching the Legend
Breaking Babe Ruth
The Young Babe Ruth
The Babe in Red Stockings
The Year Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs
Big Bam
The Big Fella

I have all of them but did not mention another one you reminded me of Wagenhiem, high on my list..
I could review Creamer and Smelser and Creamer was very good, Smelser many more details.

Another you reminded me of I like, Babe Ruth and The 1918 Red Sox, very good.
The Internet, just not as much time to read books.

[Mordecai1906]

For those who have read Babe Ruth biographies what do you consider the top 5 Babe Ruth biographies? I want to read a bunch of Ruth biographies and I've only read Robert Creamer's book so far. I've been told that Marshall's Smelser's book is another excellent Ruth biography.

You started with a good one. Perhaps on a short list for many as one of the greatest sports biographies ever written.

After that definitely Smelser and then Wagenheim. Those are the big three if you will. I would suggest reading Creamer and Smelser a second time actually.

Then I would recommend

Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox
Launching the Legend
Breaking Babe Ruth
The Young Babe Ruth
The Babe in Red Stockings
The Year Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs
Big Bam
The Big Fella

[SHOELESSJOE3]

For those who have read Babe Ruth biographies what do you consider the top 5 Babe Ruth biographies? I want to read a bunch of Ruth biographies and I've only read Robert Creamer's book so far. I've been told that Marshall's Smelser's book is another excellent Ruth biography.

There is no doubt, it's Smelser's. More than a bio, comments opponents teammates, game accounts, news clippings. This should convince you, this is the one Randy picked, Sultan714. Had it over 15 years, I still go back to it.

Babe Red Stockings cover.jpg KKKKKKKKKKK.jpg Babe in Red Stockings, a gem, so thorough . Game descriptions and more. The last page showing here at the end of the book, just stats, the whole book so interesting. Just noticed lost 5 games when Bosox were shut out. Just a note on that no hitter that turned out to a one hit win July 11, infield hit off his glove, runner beat throw from infielder

[Honus Wagner Rules]

For those who have read Babe Ruth biographies what do you consider the top 5 Babe Ruth biographies? I want to read a bunch of Ruth biographies and I've only read Robert Creamer's book so far. I've been told that Marshall Smelser's book is another excellent Ruth biography.

[Mordecai1906]

Joe, we were talking about the glory years of the Yankees in the DiMaggio thread. The Yankees got Ruth from Boston. But also brought in Ed Barrow which is largely forgotten. The Yankees master scout Paul Krichell was brought over from Boston by Barrow. Krichell signed over 200 players who later played professional baseball, including future Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, and Tony Lazzeri. His recommendation of Stengel as the Yankees manager was instrumental in Stengel's appointment in 1948. So not only was it Ruth and all the players brought in after him (by Barrow). The best and brightest of the whole Boston club went to New York. I had no idea it was that complete a transition. Pretty much the only guy the Yankees didn’t acquire was Harry Frazee himself!!!

I didn't realize that. Pretty crazy.

[bluesky5]

Joe, we were talking about the glory years of the Yankees in the DiMaggio thread. The Yankees got Ruth from Boston. But also brought in Ed Barrow which is largely forgotten. The Yankees master scout Paul Krichell was brought over from Boston by Barrow. Krichell signed over 200 players who later played professional baseball, including future Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, and Tony Lazzeri. His recommendation of Stengel as the Yankees manager was instrumental in Stengel's appointment in 1948. So not only was it Ruth and all the players brought in after him (by Barrow). The best and brightest of the whole Boston club went to New York. I had no idea it was that complete a transition. Pretty much the only guy the Yankees didn’t acquire was Harry Frazee himself!!!

[SHOELESSJOE3]

As good as he was, I don't believe Babe Ruth could promise and deliver a home run, no one could. To even promise a base hit in an at bat.
We know the game, the greatest hitters are put out around 7 of every 10 at bats...............it happened, great for Johnny Sylvester.


1926 WS bottles GOOD USE.jpg Babe Ruth Johnny Sylvester baseball knock a homer.jpg

[Mordecai1906]

That's outstanding , but I don't believe the level of competition from Ruth's era to be equal to that of the 50's to nowadays.

Are you speaking of pitching competiton because OPS is just OPS. Everyone faced the same conditions in theory. Except they didn't. From what I have read because Ruth was so dangerous he was dealt with hin a unique way comapred to his peers. And in terms of what they dealt with, trust me, Ruth would much rather have modern day technology over what he had , and they would run and hide from dealing with what he did. The simpleton era nonsene is for the JV threads. We are layers beyond that here, at least one would hope.

[carsdaddy]

Nobody hit LHP like Ruth did. Nobody is even close.
Screenshot 2023-03-11 at 10.16.57 AM.png

That's outstanding , but I don't believe the level of competition from Ruth's era to be equal to that of the 50's to nowadays.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Is anyone aware of this site on the Internet Jeff's Bespoke Baseball Stats.
So thorough, detailed and easy to read career stats batter against pitcher.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Lefty Grove one of the best lefty's in his years.
Most career home runs off of Lefty, three way tie.
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Hank Greenberg all with 9 career.

Ruth 135 at bats---Gehrig 216---Greenberg 111. Lefty tough on the two LH batters Ruth 45 SO and Gehrig 47.
Ruth could have been alone with 10 career home runs., could have.
1930 a drive off of Grove, deep RCF at Shibe, cleared the wall but struck speaker or speaker supports on the wall.
Yanks call interference but lose, no ground rule covering this, sent back to second base.
What were the odds, again in 1930 off another pitcher at Shibe he hits the same speakers, again Yanks lose the battle, sent back to second.
He ends up with 49 home runs, could have been alone with 5 seasons 50 or more.

[scottmitchell74]

Nobody hit LHP like Ruth did. Nobody is even close.
Screenshot 2023-03-11 at 10.16.57 AM.png

Yeah but LQ.. and fat...and...LQ!


I love how Ruth so dominated that it really is very hard to cut him down. A lot has to be "what iffed" to do so.

[Floyd Gondolli]

Nobody hit LHP like Ruth did. Nobody is even close.
Screenshot 2023-03-11 at 10.16.57 AM.png

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Babe pitching at Saint Mary's, shut out, 2 hits and 16 strikeouts.
Tried to find anything on his next scheduled game against some major and minor league players living in the city but no luck.

Babe Article Pitch Saint Mary Edited.jpg

[Mordecai1906]

The difference between # 1 Babe Ruth - .690 and # 2 Ted Williams - .634 is the same as Ted to # 11 Joe god .578.

Ruth man.

That's great perspective. Some records are just not going to be achievable becaue of game conditions. Especially most pitching records. But yes the slugging is beyond comprehension.

Starting in 1920 and ending age 36 the line is .357/489/736...even with full decline from 1920 on it's .347/483/.708.

The number of players who have even slugged .700 in a single season is miniscule.