[simple simon]

see, i dont hate all Yankees ................ only the ones that are still playing

i believe Babe Ruth is underrated and still remains the greatest home-run hitter of all-time

im certainly no baseball historian, i knew Ruth spent time as a pitcher i just didnt know how much ............ just this morning i learned it was 10 years ..... thats right, 10 years of his career were spent as a pitcher

what if he spent those 10 years as a hitter ..... could he have averaged 25 or more home-runs per season ......... his totals would have been much higher

instead of Bonds and A-Rod chasing Aaron they may all still be chasing Ruth

[Gotham Dark Knight]

It was more like six...the other four where spot appearances...but I agree...his totals would be up there with Josh Gibson and Oh...way pass the 800 mark...

But we tend to idolize the current heros a bit more...

[azrael492]

I don't think he is underrated. He is the best ever. I don't care what Bonds does. He was a 2 time 20 game winner with 94 wins. An ERA under 2.50. Bonds could not do that.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I don't think he is underrated. He is the best ever. I don't care what Bonds does. He was a 2 time 20 game winner with 94 wins. An ERA under 2.50. Bonds could not do that.

but if he spent those years as a hitter instead where do you think his HR total would be ?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

but if he spent those years as a hitter instead where do you think his HR total would be ?

six years at about 20-29 homers a year...you might be looking at about 865 homers give or take.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by simple simon

but if he spent those years as a hitter instead where do you think his HR total would be ?

He would have at least 850 HRs.

[ThePundit]

What makes Babe Ruth the best player in baseball history is not the numbers by themselves, but his numbers compared to everyone else in baseball at that time.

He used to hit more homers than a lot of opposing teams. Ruth really saved the sport, after the White Sox scandal.

[EmpireWF]

I know there's a thought process out there which says Ruth isn't the best of all-time because he didn't play with blacks or hispanics and whatnot. He's certainly the best of his era and his numbers are amazing, but would he have been as successful against pitchers who weren't allowed to play?

[legend]

Ruth hit 29 homers in the first season he had at least 400 at bats and then hit 54 and then 59 the next two years. He began playing in 1914 at the age of 19. If you figure that he comes in just as a hitter and not as a pitcher, and that he develops normally, you can realistically add perhaps s many as 120 more home runs to his 714, giving him 834. Nobody reaches that. And while he did not face black or Hispanic hurlers, there were very few teams in the game at the time, meaning he was facing the absolute best of his time every game, not the watered down pitching of today with 3o teams.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by legend

Ruth hit 29 homers in the first season he had at least 400 at bats and then hit 54 and then 59 the next two years. He began playing in 1914 at the age of 19. If you figure that he comes in just as a hitter and not as a pitcher, and that he develops normally, you can realistically add perhaps s many as 120 more home runs to his 714, giving him 834. Nobody reaches that. And while he did not face black or Hispanic hurlers, there were very few teams in the game at the time, meaning he was facing the absolute best of his time every game, not the watered down pitching of today with 3o teams.

I would place closer to 865...but why split hairs...he would have hit anyone in the league...and perhaps Josh Gibson would have as well...

[MJHMarc]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I would place closer to 865...but why split hairs...he would have hit anyone in the league...and perhaps Josh Gibson would have as well...

Didn't that Japanese slugger have an incredible amount of homeruns, too?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

Didn't that Japanese slugger have an incredible amount of homeruns, too?

Oh had 868 in his career and amazingly enough never over 55 in a season...he was consistant for a long time...

[MJHMarc]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Oh had 868 in his career and amazingly enough never over 55 in a season...he was consistant for a long time...

Are there any suspicions?

[Mike24]

Babe Ruth is the best player in baseball. He could do it all, pitch, hit, field, anything. I believe players like Barry Bonds or Hank Aaron don't even come close to what Ruth accomplished. Yeah, they have more homeruns, but being the best player doesn't require hitting the most homeruns. His overall BA is 3.42, 2.28 ERA .968 fielding percentage. His post season stats overall were 3.26 BA, and a 0.87 ERA. Ruth could play any position in baseball, and he was great at it.