Babe Ruth

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. (1895–1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career helped transform the sport’s popularity. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he rose to fame as a left-handed pitcher and then as a power-hitting outfielder. Ruth starred for the Boston Red Sox and became a national sensation with the New York Yankees, setting home-run records and helping define the “live-ball” era. Nicknamed the “Sultan of Swat,” he was celebrated for his larger-than-life personality as well as his athletic achievements. Ruth was among the inaugural inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.