Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;"I swing big, with everything I've got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can." -- Babe Ruthandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; Babe Ruth is without a doubt the most famous character ever produced by the sport of baseball. A legendary player, world-famous for his hitting prowess, he transcended the sport to enter the mainstream of American life as an authentic folk hero. andlt;BRandgt; In this extraordinary biography, noted sportswriter Robert W. Creamer reveals the complex man behind the sports legend. From Ruth's early days in a Baltimore orphanage, to the glory days with the Yankees, to his later years, Creamer has drawn a classic portrait of an American original.
Review
andlt;Iandgt;Sports Illustratedandlt;/Iandgt; The best biography ever written about an American sports figure.
Synopsis
"I swing big, with everything I've got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can." -- Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth is without a doubt the most famous character ever produced by the sport of baseball. A legendary player, world-famous for his hitting prowess, he transcended the sport to enter the mainstream of American life as an authentic folk hero.
In this extraordinary biography, noted sportswriter Robert W. Creamer reveals the complex man behind the sports legend. From Ruth's early days in a Baltimore orphanage, to the glory days with the Yankees, to his later years, Creamer has drawn a classic portrait of an American original.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Robert W. Creamerandlt;/Bandgt; is a senior writer for andlt;Iandgt;Sports Illustratedandlt;/Iandgt; and has been a member of that magazine's staff since its inception in 1954. He is also the author of andlt;Iandgt;Stengelandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Baseball in '41.andlt;/Iandgt;
Table of Contents
andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Contentsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Part Oneandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;1894-1919andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;1. Legend and Truth: Babe Ruth Livesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;2. The Bad Kid: Baltimore at the Turn of the Centuryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;3. Early Exile: Niggerlips in St. Mary'sandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;4. The Star of the School: Enter Jack Dunnandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;5. First Spring Training: Home Run in Fayettevilleandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;6. The Young Professional: Winning with the Oriolesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;7. Arrival in Boston: Meeting Helenandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;8. Retreat to the Minors: Pennant in Providenceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;9. The Major Leaguer: Pennant in Bostonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;10. The Lefthanded Genius: Best Pitcher in Baseballandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;11. Emergence of Temperament: How to Punch an Umpireandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;12. The Beginnings of the Hitter: Switching to the Outfieldandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;13. The Impact of War: Baseball in World War Iandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;14. The 1918 World Series: The Abortive Strikeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;15. The Big Fight: Ruth vs. Barrowandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;16. The First Home Run Record: Magic 29andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;17. Departure from Boston: Sold down the Riverandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Part Twoandlt;BRandgt;1920-1948andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;18. Revolution in Baseball: Ruth Reaches New Yorkandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;19. The Amazing Season: Nothing Like It Ever Beforeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;20. Encore: Topping the Amazing Seasonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;21. The Second Big Fight: Ruth vs. Landisandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;22. The Fall of the Hero: Ruth in Disgraceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;23. The jinx and the Baby: The Weird Season Endsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;24. The First Reformation: How to Bat -393andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;25. The Disaster: The Bellyache Heard Round the Worldandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;26. The Third Big Fight: Ruth vs. Hugginsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;27. The Real Reformation: The Superb Seasonsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;28. Kaleidoscope: Personality of the Babeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;29. Death of Helen: Marriage to Claireandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;30. The $80,000 Salary: A Better Year than Hooverandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;31. The Magnificent Moment: The Called-Shot Home Runandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;32. Decline: It's Hell to Be Oldandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;33. Farewell to New York: Back to Bostonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;34. The Last Act: Opera Bouffe with the Bravesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;35. Retirement: The Call That Never Cameandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;36. The End: Joe, I'm Goneandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;ACKNOWLEDGMENTSandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;INDEX