Baseball's Greatest Living Player...who is it?

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by poorlydrawncat

Although I'm more impressed by Ruth because his contemporaries probably took better care of themselves than he did (I know everyone smoke and drank, but Ruth took it to another level and gorged himself on food to boot). I'll never understand how he was so much better than everyone else around him.

It's amazing how certain myths regarding Babe Ruth are so often repeated. Well here is the real story......

At the end of the 1925 season, Babe Ruth was considering calling it quits. He played only 98 games in 1925. He had a mediocre season, and at age 30, weighed 254 lbs.
So that December, he sought out professional help by going to a Physical Fitness Gym. He started a rigorous fitness regimen at Artie McGovern's NYC gym (Artie was his
personal trainer). In 6 weeks, Ruth lost 44 lbs and his physical condition had improved to the point where he said "he felt like 20 again".

Ruth's performance 1926 proved that his physical conditioning really paid off. He played in 152 games....BA = .372....HR = 47....RBI = 145....SLA = .737

He continued this physical conditioning regimen for the remainder of his BB career. This transformation also brought about a renewed optimism; and, from 1927 - 1933
his career performance was equal to (or better than) his playing days when he was in his 20's.

Prior to Ruth's physical fitness program, his numbers were......

1918 - 1925

BA = .350

HR = 300

RBI = 905

After starting his physical fitness program, his numbers are......

1926 - 1933

BA = .341

HR = 377

RBI = 1161


TED Z
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