Discover the Sultan of Swat: Top 8 Fun and Surprising Facts About Babe Ruth

1. Silk Shirt Sultan

Feast your eyes on Babe Ruth, a one-man party that turned baseball fields into his personal silk shirt emporium and made whorehouses his home away from home: The Sultan of Swat was known for wearing up to seven silk shirts a day, indulging in an extravagant lifestyle, and smashing the 1919 home run record with 29 homers, even out-homering entire major league teams in the years that followed.
Source => xroads.virginia.edu

2. Humble Babe to Legendary Bambino

Before the "Great Bambino" was smashing balls out of the park and turning hot dogs into mere appetizers, George Herman Ruth Jr. was just a humble babe with a knack for swinging wood: Babe Ruth became a legend through his record-breaking home runs and playing a key role in the Boston Red Sox's three championships in 1915, 1916, and 1918; later moving to the New York Yankees, while also dedicating his time to philanthropic efforts, raising money for various charitable causes throughout his life.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know Hank Aaron's unique cross-handed batting stance helped him become the home run king? Discover how his unorthodox grip contributed to his astonishing 4,136 hits across various leagues!

=> Fun Facts about Hank-Aaron

3. Candy Bar Conundrum

In a confectionery conundrum that would leave Willy Wonka scratching his head, the Sultan of Swat found himself in a sticky legal mess over a candy bar – but not for munching too many: Babe Ruth had a candy company, the George H. Ruth Candy Company, which created "Ruth's Home Run Candy," only to face a lawsuit by the Curtiss Candy Company who claimed that their candy bar, Baby Ruth, was named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth Cleveland. Oddly enough, the U.S. government sided with Curtiss in 1931, and Babe Ruth was left with nothing but the bittersweet taste of candy-fueled defeat.
Source => history.com

4. The Real House That Ruth Built

They say home is where the heart is, but for Babe Ruth and the Yankees, it seems home is where the bat is – or at least, where it swung with ear-splitting home runs: Although Yankee Stadium was dubbed "The House That Ruth Built" due to Ruth's unmatched popularity and impact on the sport, the stadium was actually the brainchild of owner Jacob Ruppert, who footed the bill out of his own pocket and sought to create a new home base for his team since 1909. Babe's magnificent presence definitely lured in countless fans, but it was Ruppert who put the foundation and dreams into bricks and mortar!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Heavyweight Bat Power

Not one to shy away from heavy lifting, Babe Ruth was known for bringing considerable weight to the baseball diamond - we're talking no less than 46 ounces of pure home run power: In his early career, the Sultan of Swat wielded a 36-inch, 46-ounce bat, but later swapped it for a lighter 40-ounce version during his legendary 60-homer season in 1927, debunking the myth of a 54-ounce favorite.
Source => bleacherreport.com

6. Pigtown Pavarotti

Before he became the Sultan of Swat, he was the Pavarotti of Pigtown and the Laurence Olivier of locker rooms: Babe Ruth, as a student at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, excelled not only in baseball but also showcased his talents in music and theater, as a member of the school band and drama club, guided by Brother Matthias Boutlier who taught him baseball and essential life lessons.
Source => worldhistoryproject.org

7. Record-Breaking Pitching

Before there was a time when lengthy baseball games were as common as a Charlie Sheen meltdown, Babe Ruth ruled the roost: During the 1916 World Series, he pitched a 14-inning game without allowing a single home run, setting the record for the longest World Series game sans home runs until Game 3 of the 2018 World Series.
Source => baseballhall.org

8. Babeflix and Chill

Before there was online streaming, there was "Babeflix and Chill": Babe Ruth was a silent film star, smitten by his on-screen laundress after scoring a home run with her heart – and an errant fly ball! The serious reveal: In 1927, baseball legend Babe Ruth played Babe Dugan in "Babe Comes Home," an unfortunate victim of lost footage, where he falls in love with his laundress Vernie, but their romance is tested by his love for chewing tobacco.
Source => lostmediawiki.com