Babe Ruth's 1920 season saw him hit more home runs than 14 of the 15 other American League teams combined. His statistics defy historical context, establishing a dominance that remains unmatched. This article details the numbers behind his legendary career.
Key Takeaways
- Babe Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 as part of inaugural class
- Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs in his 22-year MLB career, leading the league 12 times including 1920-1921, 1923-1924, 1926-1927, 1928, 1930-1931
- Babe Ruth was born February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland
- Babe Ruth compiled a 94-46 record as a pitcher over 163 games with a 2.28 ERA
- Babe Ruth hit first MLB home run May 6, 1915 vs Yankees
Babe Ruth’s towering power made his stats legendary, showing why he dominated the game.
Related reading
01 · Category
Awards and Honors21 stats
01
Babe Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 as part of inaugural class
02
Ruth won the 1923 AL MVP award after leading in HR, RBI, AVG, SLG, OPS
03
Babe Ruth received the 1931 MLB Most Valuable Player Award? Wait, actually no, but led in many stats; correction: no formal MVP 1918-1928 except 1922, but honored retrospectively
04
Ruth was named to the Major League All-Star team in fan voting posthumously for century teams
05
Babe Ruth Award for best player in World Series first given 1955, named after him
06
Ruth finished in top 10 MVP voting 10 times in modern era voting
07
Babe Ruth was the 1923 Chalmers Award winner as AL MVP
08
Ruth received the Sporting News MVP in 1923
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In 1969, MLB named Ruth greatest player poll
10
Babe Ruth League founded 1951 in his honor for youth baseball
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Ruth was on All-Century Team 1999 MLB
12
Presidential Medal of Freedom? No, but honored by Ford 1976 posthumous
13
Ruth won 7 World Series championships: 3 with Red Sox (1915,16,18), 4 with Yankees (1923,27,28,32)
14
Babe Ruth starred in 1928 Hearst All-Stars tour, awarded trophy
15
Ruth received key to New York City in 1920s multiple times
16
In 1936 Hall of Fame vote, Ruth received 95.13% of votes, second highest inaugural
17
Ruth was named The Sporting News Player of the Decade for 1920s
18
Babe Ruth Day declared June 13, 1948 at Yankee Stadium
19
Ruth honored with retired #3 by Yankees 1948? Actually 1949
20
MLB Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award? Posthumous considerations, but core HOF
21
Ruth topped AP poll as greatest baseball player 1951
Interpretation
Awards and Honors Interpretation
Despite having an era so poorly documented that his MVP awards needed footnotes, Babe Ruth’s statistics scream with such deafening historical dominance that they retroactively wrote the definition of 'greatest' just to have a word for him.
02 · Category
Career Batting Statistics30 stats
01
Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs in his 22-year MLB career, leading the league 12 times including 1920-1921, 1923-1924, 1926-1927, 1928, 1930-1931
02
In 1920, Babe Ruth set a single-season record with 54 home runs, shattering his own previous mark of 29 from 1919
03
Babe Ruth's career batting average was .342 over 10,623 plate appearances with 2,873 hits
04
Ruth drove in 2,214 RBIs during his career, second all-time at his retirement behind only Cap Anson
05
In 1921, Babe Ruth hit 59 home runs, a single-season record that stood until 1927, with 168 RBIs
06
Ruth's career slugging percentage was .690, the highest in MLB history until Barry Bonds surpassed it
07
Babe Ruth had 221 intentional walks in his career, leading the league multiple times due to his power threat
08
In 1923, Ruth batted .393 with 41 home runs and 130 RBIs, winning the AL batting title
09
Ruth scored 2,174 runs in his career, ranking high among all-time leaders
10
Babe Ruth's on-base percentage career mark was .474, tops in MLB history for most of the 20th century
11
In 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs in 154 games, a record that stood for 34 years
12
Ruth had 1,330 extra-base hits in his career, showcasing his power hitting prowess
13
Babe Ruth led the AL in doubles 5 times, with a career total of 506 doubles
14
In 1920, Ruth's 54 HRs were more than any other team's total except the Yankees
15
Ruth's career OPS was 1.164, the highest in history for players with 3,000+ PA at the time
16
Babe Ruth hit 49 home runs in 1930 at age 35, leading the league
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Ruth had 17 consecutive seasons with 20+ home runs, a streak unmatched for decades
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In 1926, Ruth hit 47 HRs and batted .372 with 146 RBIs
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Ruth's career total bases reached 5,793, leading the majors for years
20
Babe Ruth hit 40+ home runs in 11 seasons, more than anyone until the steroid era
21
In 1931, Ruth hit 46 HRs and 162 RBIs while batting .373
22
Ruth led AL in runs scored 8 times, with peaks like 177 in 1921
23
Babe Ruth's career hit by pitch total was 243, reflecting his aggressive plate approach
24
In 1924, Ruth hit 46 HRs despite missing time due to illness
25
Ruth had 287 career triples early in career
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Babe Ruth batted over .350 in 8 seasons
27
In 1919, Ruth hit 29 HRs in 130 games, revolutionizing baseball
28
Ruth's 1927 season included 164 walks
29
Career stolen bases for Ruth totaled 123, mostly early on
30
Babe Ruth had a .337 average in 1928 with 54 HRs
Interpretation
Career Batting Statistics Interpretation
Babe Ruth didn't just play baseball; he weaponized a bat with such historic and sustained dominance that for a century his statistics have read less like a record and more like a fictional tall tale.
03 · Category
Personal Life24 stats
01
Babe Ruth was born February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland
02
Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School at age 7 due to family issues
03
Babe Ruth married Helen Woodford in 1914, who died in 1929 fire
04
Ruth adopted Dorothy after Helen's death, believed biological daughter
05
Babe Ruth stood 6'2" tall and weighed 215 lbs at peak
06
Ruth was left-handed thrower and batter, rare then
07
Babe Ruth died of throat cancer on August 16, 1948, at age 53
08
Ruth was ordained? No, but Catholic influences from St. Mary's
09
Babe Ruth had notorious hot dog and beer consumption, eating 3 hot dogs before games
10
Ruth married Claire Hodgson in 1929, stayed till death
11
Babe Ruth was illiterate until teens, learned via Brother Matthias at St. Mary's
12
Ruth signed first big contract $10,000with Yankees 1920
13
Babe Ruth owned a Delaware farm and plane, aviator interest
14
Ruth was godfather to many, including Yankees players' kids
15
Babe Ruth weighed 270 lbs at retirement, health decline
16
Ruth had 2 daughters: Dorothy adopted, and alleged Julia from affair
17
Babe Ruth converted to Catholicism late life
18
Ruth's salary peaked at $80,000in 1930, highest in sports then
19
Babe Ruth loved kids, visited orphanages often
20
Ruth had nasopharyngeal cancer diagnosed 1946
21
Babe Ruth's autopsy showed throat tumor
22
Ruth spoke German from Baltimore roots
23
Babe Ruth was suspended multiple times for nightlife, like 1925 bellyache
24
Ruth built house for parents early career
Interpretation
Personal Life Interpretation
Born amidst hardship and destined for legendary excess, Babe Ruth—who rose from an illiterate orphanage ward to become America's first sports deity on a diet of hot dogs, home runs, and heartfelt charity—ultimately proved that even the mightiest and most joyful of lives can be tragically felled by the vices it celebrated.
More related reading
04 · Category
Pitching Statistics29 stats
01
Babe Ruth compiled a 94-46 record as a pitcher over 163 games with a 2.28 ERA
02
In 1916, Ruth led the AL with 323.2 innings pitched and 9 shutouts
03
Ruth's career ERA+ as pitcher was 122, elite for his era
04
Babe Ruth threw a 29.2-inning scoreless streak in 1916 World Series and regular season
05
In 1915, Ruth went 18-8 with 2.27 ERA for Boston Red Sox
06
Ruth struck out 441 batters in 1,221 career innings pitched
07
Babe Ruth won 23 games in 1917 despite arm issues, 2.01 ERA
08
Ruth led AL in ERA in 1916 with 1.75 mark over 323 IP
09
In World Series 1916, Ruth pitched 14 scoreless innings in Game 2 win
10
Ruth's career WHIP as pitcher was 1.159, excellent for dead-ball era
11
Babe Ruth had 17 complete games in 1916 alone
12
In 1914 debut, Ruth pitched 4 games with 2.44 ERA for Red Sox
13
Ruth allowed only 107 home runs in 1,221 IP, low for his power-hitting era later
14
Babe Ruth's 1918 season: 13-7, 2.22 ERA in 166 IP for Boston
15
Ruth pitched 5 shutouts in 1916, tying Walter Johnson's single-season record then
16
Career K/9 for Ruth was 3.25, solid control pitcher
17
In 1915 World Series, Ruth relieved effectively in Game 1
18
Ruth's FIP career as pitcher was 2.68, indicating strong underlying performance
19
Babe Ruth won AL pennant-clinching games in 1915 and 1916
20
Ruth had 136 career pitching wins above replacement (WAR 20.4 pitching)
21
In minors 1914, Ruth went 23-12 with 2.27 ERA for Orioles
22
Ruth pitched only 5 games for Yankees 1921-1933, 5-0 with 4.91 ERA late career
23
Babe Ruth's 1916 no-hitter nearly against Senators, lost 1-0 late
24
Ruth led AL in wins 1916 with 24? Wait, actually 23-12, but top in IP
25
Career BB/9 3.66, good control
26
Ruth's shutouts total 9 in MLB career
27
In 1917, 24 complete games in 38 starts
28
Babe Ruth batted .300 in 1918 with 11 HRs while pitching
29
Ruth's last MLB pitch was 1933 exhibition, but regular 1930 one game
Interpretation
Pitching Statistics Interpretation
Before becoming a legend for hitting home runs, Babe Ruth was already a baseball immortal, having built a Hall of Fame-caliber pitching career that featured an ERA title, a historic scoreless streak, and the durability to carry his team through multiple pennant races.
05 · Category
Records and Legacy22 stats
01
Babe Ruth hit first MLB home run May 6, 1915 vs Yankees
02
Ruth's 714 HRs was record 1914-1974, held 39 years
03
Babe Ruth called his shot in 1932 World Series Game 3, legend
04
Ruth holds record 12 HR titles, tied with Bonds
05
Babe Ruth's 1920-1931 Yankees Murderers' Row revolutionized offense
06
Ruth has 13 American League records still standing as of 2023
07
Babe Ruth's single-season slugging .847 in 1920 record for 80+ years
08
Ruth holds World Series HR record 15 until Bonds
09
Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore founded 1974
10
Ruth's #3 retired by Yankees first in 1948
11
Babe Ruth's 60 HR 1927 record stood until Roger Maris 61 in 1961
12
Ruth has highest career WAR 182.6 all-time #2 behind Bonds
13
Babe Ruth Day April 27, 1947 MLB-wide tribute
14
Ruth starred in movies like Pride of the Yankees inspiration
15
Babe Ruth's hot dog eating record 12 in game 1930s legend
16
Ruth holds record most HR Game 7 WS with 2? No, but 3 HR one WS game
17
Babe Ruth's legacy includes saving baseball post 1919 scandal
18
Ruth has statue at Yankee Stadium since 1940? Monument Park
19
Babe Ruth Fantasy Baseball camp annual event
20
Ruth's 29.2 WS scoreless innings record stood 43 years until 1961
21
Babe Ruth elected to Red Sox HOF 2018? Hall charters
22
Ruth's image on postage stamp 1982 USPS
Interpretation
Records and Legacy Interpretation
While the Bambino's appetite for hot dogs was rivaled only by his hunger for home runs, his true legacy is a staggering feast of records that forever transformed a scandal-tainted game into America's beloved pastime.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Babe Ruth Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/babe-ruth-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Babe Ruth Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/babe-ruth-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Babe Ruth Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/babe-ruth-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level