# 2046 FDC - 1983 20c George "Babe Ruth" Herman
20¢ Babe Ruth
City: Chicago, IL
Quantity: 184,950,000
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Engraved
Perforations: 10.5 x 11
Color: Blue
Birth of Babe Ruth
Ruth was reportedly a rambunctious child with a habit of getting into trouble. It’s likely because of this that he was sent to the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, where he stayed for 12 years.
Ruth began his professional baseball career in 1914, joining the Baltimore Orioles minor league team. Ruth quickly established himself as the team’s star pitcher and was also a very successful batter. Despite Ruth’s top performance, the team gained little attention and the coach opted to sell Ruth and his other star players to the Boston Red Sox to help fund his team.
Ruth would play with the Red Sox from 1914 to 1919. During this time, Ruth grew tired of only playing every few games as a pitcher. He wanted to play every day and eventually convinced the coach to move him to the outfield. The move proved wise, as Ruth earned a .300 batting average and helped lead the team to victory in the 1918 World Series.
The following season, Ruth only pitched in 17 of his 130 games and had an 8-5 record. Though the team wouldn’t make it to the World Series, Ruth had a banner year. He became the first major league player to hit a home run in all eight ballparks in his league. And he broke the major league home run record, finishing the season with 29.
By the time Ruth became a Yankee, he was already considered one of the greatest hitters in the game. He also possessed a flamboyant playing style and became immensely popular with fans and players alike. This was no more evident than in 1923 when the new Yankee Stadium was nicknamed “the House That Ruth Built.” Crowds packed the stadium game after game, to see what great feats Ruth would accomplish that day.
But it would be the 1929 season that would bring one of Ruth’s greatest accomplishments. By August of that year, he had racked up an unprecedented 499 home runs. Prior to his game at Cleveland’s League Park on August 11, Babe approached the field’s police chief. He told the chief that he would hit his 500th home run that day and wanted to keep the ball.
Three years later, Ruth had another memorable home run. It occurred during the 1932 World Series at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Before hitting the ball, he famously reached his arm out, possibly pointing where he planned to hit the ball. Whether Ruth actually indicated his intentions to the taunting, lemon-throwing Wrigley Field crowd has been widely debated for years. However, it made for good headlines and added to Ruth’s already legendary reputation.
Ruth played with the Yankees until 1934 and played his final season with the Boston Braves. He briefly served as a first base coach, spoke at Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day and attended the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also made a number of appearances to support the war effort during World War II.
Ruth’s health declined in his later years and he died on August 16, 1948.
20¢ Babe Ruth
City: Chicago, IL
Quantity: 184,950,000
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Engraved
Perforations: 10.5 x 11
Color: Blue
Birth of Babe Ruth
Ruth was reportedly a rambunctious child with a habit of getting into trouble. It’s likely because of this that he was sent to the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, where he stayed for 12 years.
Ruth began his professional baseball career in 1914, joining the Baltimore Orioles minor league team. Ruth quickly established himself as the team’s star pitcher and was also a very successful batter. Despite Ruth’s top performance, the team gained little attention and the coach opted to sell Ruth and his other star players to the Boston Red Sox to help fund his team.
Ruth would play with the Red Sox from 1914 to 1919. During this time, Ruth grew tired of only playing every few games as a pitcher. He wanted to play every day and eventually convinced the coach to move him to the outfield. The move proved wise, as Ruth earned a .300 batting average and helped lead the team to victory in the 1918 World Series.
The following season, Ruth only pitched in 17 of his 130 games and had an 8-5 record. Though the team wouldn’t make it to the World Series, Ruth had a banner year. He became the first major league player to hit a home run in all eight ballparks in his league. And he broke the major league home run record, finishing the season with 29.
By the time Ruth became a Yankee, he was already considered one of the greatest hitters in the game. He also possessed a flamboyant playing style and became immensely popular with fans and players alike. This was no more evident than in 1923 when the new Yankee Stadium was nicknamed “the House That Ruth Built.” Crowds packed the stadium game after game, to see what great feats Ruth would accomplish that day.
But it would be the 1929 season that would bring one of Ruth’s greatest accomplishments. By August of that year, he had racked up an unprecedented 499 home runs. Prior to his game at Cleveland’s League Park on August 11, Babe approached the field’s police chief. He told the chief that he would hit his 500th home run that day and wanted to keep the ball.
Three years later, Ruth had another memorable home run. It occurred during the 1932 World Series at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Before hitting the ball, he famously reached his arm out, possibly pointing where he planned to hit the ball. Whether Ruth actually indicated his intentions to the taunting, lemon-throwing Wrigley Field crowd has been widely debated for years. However, it made for good headlines and added to Ruth’s already legendary reputation.
Ruth played with the Yankees until 1934 and played his final season with the Boston Braves. He briefly served as a first base coach, spoke at Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day and attended the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also made a number of appearances to support the war effort during World War II.
Ruth’s health declined in his later years and he died on August 16, 1948.