Was Babe Ruth the Greatest Baseball Player of All Time?
It can be argued either way whether Babe Ruth was the greatest baseball player of all time. He certainly was one of the greatest home run hitters of all time and has the most recognizable name in the history of the game.
One way to judge the “Bambino” is to measure his popularity in the era that he played. Ruth was the biggest name in the sport when he played and he made the Yankees one of the most feared teams in the entire league. While he was not the fastest or most athletic of all the players, he still managed to perform at a very high level.
Year after year, in his prime, Ruth consistently led or was near the top of Major League baseball’s leaders in home runs, RBIs and batting average. He was an above average fielder and a fan favorite.
Other players throughout the history of baseball have eclipsed Ruth’s statistics, but that does not necessarily elevate them to the status of being the greatest baseball player of all time. Ted Williams hit for a higher batting average. Willie Mays was a much more complete player. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s lifetime home run record.
Babe Ruth was the greatest baseball player of his time. Who knows how he would do if he was playing in today’s modern era. If not the greatest, Ruth must at least be considered in the top ten.