I personally don't think so. Babe Ruth played in a era when no minorities could even play in the same league as white ball players! Therefore since "The Babe" didn't face any minorites except his own kind, how can he be the greatest baseball player ever? To add to that, look at the different pitches that were thrown. During his time there no breaking pitches just straight fastballs. So how could he be the greatest?
2006-07-15 05:32:59 · 16 answers · asked by antonio d 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Babe Ruth was definitely the greatest baseball player of all time.
Among other things, he not only set and held the record for most World Series Home Runs with 15 (later broken by Mantle with 18), he also held the record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched in World Series play with 29, not broken until Whitey Ford in 1961. The thought that one man could hold the world series record both for Home Runs and consecutive scoreless innings pitched is mind-boggling...and he held both of these records for over 30 years.
Ruth won one batting title, but led the league in:
On base percentage 10 times
Slugging Pct 13 times
OPS 13 times
Runs Scored 8 times
Total Bases 6 times
Home Runs 12 times
RBI's 6 times
Walks Drawn 11 times
Extra base hits 7 times...
You get the idea...
BTW, at the end of the 2005 season, Babe Ruth ranked 78th on the all time strikeout list (as a hitter) with 1,330... That's pretty far down there for someone who "struck out more than anyone in history"
The fact that blacks weren't in the major leagues at that time is irrelevant.
And as to the statement that there were only fastballs during that time... wtf? Pitchers were allowed to do ANYTHING they wanted to a baseball... spitballs were legal. Plus, when Ruth came up, the umpires didn't throw a ball out of a game just because it had a speck of dust on it like they do now... Ever hear of Ray Chapman? No, of course not... he was the only major league player to be killed by a pitch (in 1920)...the ball was dirty, and almost impossible to pick up after the pitcher released it... plus, Players didn't wear helmets in those days... now, they come to the plate in body armor (Barry Bonds)..
Babe Ruth never played against blacks, but blacks never played against Babe Ruth, either. That argument goes both ways.
Babe Ruth was on his way to a Hall of Fame career as a pitcher, and would probably have made the HOF that way if he hadn't switched to the outfield.
Michael Jordan is said by some to be the greatest basketball player ever...now, THAT'S hype...
Babe Ruth wasn't the greatest player ever because of hype...he was the greatest player ever because he was the greatest player ever.
2006-07-15 14:06:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Also you are forgetting that players now play three to four times the amount of games that Babe played. Also you are forgetting that players train much more than the Babe did. Also you are forgetting that players have much more technology and medical knowedge than the Babe did.
The fact that minorities were not allowed in baseball is irrelevant. There are people now who could do better than a professional but, for whatever reason, are not able to compete.
Remember Jackie Robinson did break the Babe's record, but he trained, played more games, and was the beneficiary of new technology.
Babe Ruth was stone drunk almost every time he went to bat, and was still better than everyone until that pumped up steroid freak passed a legitimate score by cheating in every way possible.
2006-07-15 05:41:30 · answer #2 · answered by damndirtyape212 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is unarguably the greatest player ever for three reasons.1 pal do a little research and you will find out that he played in a pitching dominated era where if you hit 20 homeruns you were considered to be a top 5 slugger. 2 He hit 13% of the leagues home runs in 1925 if bonds were to hit that percent of the leagues home runs the year he hit 73 he would have needed 317 homeruns to surpass that. 3 he was also a great pitcher not just a hitter he was considered a top 15 pitcher in the league back then he dominated in all categories and he is without a doubt the best baseball player ever
2006-07-15 05:39:28 · answer #3 · answered by fantasy guru 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Babe Ruth was easily the most dominant player in the history of baseball. At a time when Baseball was the ONLY game, if you were an athlete you played baseball...
"just straight fastballs"? where the hell do you get your information..It was legal for pitchers of that era to "Doctor" the ball in just about anyway they wanted..Spitball, vaseline ball, emory ball(scuffing the ball) were all legal...Batters would have a cow now if pitchers were allowed to pull that stuff...
As to the race thing. Maybe you can prove to me statistically that the integration of baseball significantly and adversely affected the performance of "white" superstars from 1947-2006...It didn't seem to make much difference to guys like Ted Williams , Stan Musial..
How about instead of making ignorant race baiting comments you prove your point, baseball is all numbers...
2006-07-15 07:20:45 · answer #4 · answered by jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That what I been saying for a long time to. You forgot that the homerun fences were a lot shorter back then to. Babe Ruth was great, but I don't think he was the greatest. For my money I would like to see Willie Mays or Barry Bonds play over Babe Ruth.
2006-07-15 20:33:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing is clear. A lot of people answer these questions without any real idea what they're talking about.
You might be able to make an argument that Aaron or Gehrig or Williams or a handful of others was more talented without looking like you're an imbecile.
But anyone who says Ruth isn't at least arguably the best, or that he wasn't close to the best, or was maybe in the top 20, clearly has no grasp on what they're talking about.
2006-07-15 09:31:54 · answer #6 · answered by olelefthander 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Curly kid, don't talk about things you know nothing about. Reggie Jackson is the all time strike out leader. In fact, Babe Ruth never even struck out 100 times in a season. Think about that when you consider most sluggers strike out 140 times a season.
Ruth changed the sport and dominated in a way that no other athlete has ever dominated. Maybe Gretzky could be considered in the same echelon. He had a career average of .342. His career OBS is 1.164. No one can even sniff those numbers.
2006-07-15 05:55:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No Hank AAron because i think Babe Ruth did Drugs
2006-07-15 06:10:15 · answer #8 · answered by soccerstar048 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there is no doubt about it. He put up monster offensive numbers and held the single season and all time home record for decades. Not to mention he was playing in a time before steroids. He also put up hall of fame numbers as a pitcher. There really isnt even a way to compare him to anybody because of his ability to do both. Its never been seen before or even since.
2006-07-15 07:06:48 · answer #9 · answered by drunkbomber 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was really good, but overall, not the best. sure, he has the 3rd most homeruns (thanks to barry), but if you know baseball, he also has the most strikeouts of any person ever to play the game. I think the Babe would be in the top 20 best players of all time.
2006-07-15 05:44:03 · answer #10 · answered by Chase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋