UNFORGETTABLE EVEN WHEN HE STRUCK OUT

THE MOST FAMOUS BASEBALL PLAYER IN HISTORY DEAD AT 53

New York City (JFK+50) The most famous baseball player in history,  George Herman Ruth, a.k.a. Babe Ruth, passed away from complications of throat cancer on August 16, 1948.

The Babe had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his neck in 1946 and had been undergoing experimental treatment.  Mr. Ruth, who was known by various nicknames, including "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", was 53 years old.

His body would lie in repose at Yankee Stadium, known as "The House That Ruth Built" and  the funeral service was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

It was written in his obituary that Babe Ruth was "unforgettable even when he struck out," and continued...

"He was color itself...a fellow built on heroic, swaggering lines, an enormous head on a barrel of a body."

The Babe made more than $2 million dollars, an awesome sum in his day, and reportedly spent most of it.  Not remembering names well, even of his own teammates, he greeted everyone with...."Hello kid."

SOURCE

"He was unforgettable, even when he struck out", by Lily Rothman, August 16, 2018, www.time.com/

Babe Ruth (1920)
by Irwin, La Broad & Pudlin 
Library of Congress Photo

JFK+50 TOP TEN POSTS #6

JFK+50 TOP POST #6

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue a review of the ten most popular posts of our JFK+50 blog since we began in November 2010.  This review will include updates and revisions of the original posts. 

Thanks to all our visitors worldwide.

BABE RUTH SIGNED BY YANKEES

January 5, 2011, New York City (JFK+50) 91 years ago, January 5, 1920, the New York Yankees Baseball Club announced the purchase of George Herman "Babe" Ruth* from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000.

Ruth would go on to become the most famous baseball player in history.  "The Bambino" hit 54 home runs in 1920, 59 in 1921, and a record 60 in 1927.

The historic trade would later be called "The Curse of the Bambino" as the Red Sox victory in the 1918 World Series would be their last until 2004.

DEATH OF BABE RUTH 

New York City (JFK+50) George Herman Ruth, better known as "Babe", died on August 16, 1948.  The flag at Yankee Stadium, "the House That Ruth Built," was lowered to half-staff.

Two years earlier, "Mr. Baseball,"  had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his neck and had been undergoing experimental treatment since that time.

        

      The Babe Gives His Autobiography

                       to Yale University

           Received by George H.W. Bush

The most famous player in the game, known by various nicknames, including "Bambino" and "Sultan of Swat", was 53 years old at the time of his death.

His body lay in repose at Yankee Stadium while the funeral service was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Burial was in the Cemetery of the Gates of Heaven in Hawthorne, New York.

                   Grave of Babe Ruth

     Cemetery of the Gates of Heaven

               Hawthorne, New York

        Photo by Anthony 22 (2004)

*George Herman Ruth (1895-1948) was born in Baltimore, MD.  His parents were German-American.  Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys and was signed to play baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1914.  He was soon traded to the Boston Red Sox as a star pitcher and hitter.

Babe Ruth played in the Major Leagues from 1914-1935 and for the New York Yankees from 1920-1935.  In his last year of baseball, 1936, he played for the Boston Braves.  Ruth was one of the first inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.