| George Herman Ruth, better known as "Babe | | | | popularity grew by leaps and bounds, prompting all |
| Ruth", is widely regarded as the greatest baseball | | | | major league teams to expand their home arenas |
| player in the history of the game. Also known as | | | | to fit in more fans. It is no wonder that even |
| "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat," a virtual | | | | today, they call Yankee Stadium as "The House |
| home run machine whose exploits off the | | | | That Ruth Built." |
| diamond were as colorful as the wonders he | | | | Ruth was also a member of the original American |
| pulled off while on it. He was a national icon in | | | | League All-Star team in 1933. He was named |
| every sense of the word and one of the key | | | | baseball's Greatest Player Ever in a ballot |
| figures of the Roaring Twenties of American | | | | commemorating the 100th anniversary of |
| history. | | | | professional baseball in 1936. Meanwhile, in 1998, in |
| Ruth was among the first five players to be | | | | its list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players," The |
| inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the | | | | Sporting News ranked Ruth as number one. |
| first truly great baseball player and his excellence | | | | In 1999, fans elected Ruth to the Major League |
| on the field inspired everyone to watch the game, | | | | Baseball All-Century Team. |
| including several generations of great baseball | | | | Ruth's abilities were so unique that he was able to |
| players who would follow after him. Ruth was the | | | | change the way the game was played. In those |
| first player to hit over 30, 40 and 50 home runs | | | | days, the "inside game" had been the main |
| in one season. In the 1927 season, he slammed | | | | strategy in baseball for decades. But Ruth hit the |
| 60 home runs, a record which stood for 34 years | | | | ball so hard and for so many home runs and |
| until Roger Maris broke it in 1961. | | | | extra base hits that other teams were compelled |
| Aside from the players, Ruth's fame and athletic | | | | to follow suit and adopt the "power game." |
| exploits also inspired entire armies of fans. No one | | | | With Ruth as its centerpiece, the New York |
| had done more to expand the fan base of | | | | Yankees went on to become arguably the |
| baseball than Ruth. Spurred by the vast American | | | | greatest sports dynasty in history. |
| and international popularity of Ruth, baseball's | | | | |