This Day in History: The Retirement of Babe Ruth

Today marks 89 years since the legendary Babe Ruth announced his retirement from baseball. This announcement came as a surprise to many fans around the world as they anticipated to watch him play in the 1935 season. Ruth had dominated the baseball field for over two decades and was known for his iconic home run hits. In this blog post, we will take a look at his retirement announcement, discuss his impressive career, and examine the impact he had on the sport of baseball.

Babe Ruth's retirement announcement came at a time when he was 39 years old, making his decision more understandable. After all, he had been playing professionally since he was 19 years old. His announcement, however, still left his fans in shock and many wondered why he would stop playing when still clearly in his prime. Nonetheless, Ruth cited that he had not been offered a job that he felt was worth working for and so decided to retire.

For 22 seasons (1914-1935), Babe Ruth dominated baseball and set records that took decades for other players to break. His record for most home runs in a season was 60, a feat that was unmatched until Roger Maris hit 61 homers in 1961. His career total of 714 home runs stood as an all-time record until it was broken in 1974 by Hank Aaron. His outstanding performance was evident in his career statistics, as he finished with a career .342 batting average, 2,873 hits, and an incredible 2,214 RBIs. These numbers cemented his name in the record books and his legacy lives on today.

The man who came to be known as the "Sultan of Swat" and the "Bambino" certainly left a mark on baseball that is still felt today. He was known for his charisma, his power hitting, and his unparalleled style of play. Ruth was one of the first sports superstars and his popularity extended beyond the baseball field. He was a cultural icon and his impact can be seen in several aspects of American society, even to this day, as he became a nation's celebrity and folk hero.

Ruth retired with a lot of fanfare and even had a day named in his honor, "Babe Ruth Day," which was celebrated across the United States. It was a tribute to his contribution to baseball and to the nation at large. As he stepped away from the game, he did so as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Babe Ruth's announcement of his retirement may have come as a shock to his fans, but it was a decision that marked the end of a monumental career that had left an indelible mark on baseball. Today, his name is still synonymous with excellence on the baseball field and his impact can be felt in several aspects of popular culture. Ruth will always be remembered as the greatest baseball player of all time and the man who changed the game forever.