What MLB Legend Shoeless Joe Jackson Thought About Babe Ruth
There was a great deal of respect between two titans of baseball
Although there have arguably been a small number of players better than Babe Ruth, none have approached the level of legend the slugger built during an amazing career. When he passed away in 1948 at the age of 53, his death elicited reactions from all corners of the world and the game, including the famously reticent former outfielder, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, who opened up just a little about the man who used to emulate him as a young player.
Ruth began his professional career as a pitcher, where he developed into one of the best hurlers in the game with the Boston Red Sox. He was a lefty with a good curve and fastball, but his substantial hitting ability led to him increasingly seeing more time playing the field. Ultimately, he became a full-time outfielder.
After hitting a record 29 home runs with the Red Sox in 1919, he was sold to the New York Yankees and spent the next 15 years with them, becoming the biggest star in America, let alone baseball. In subsequent years, his home run totals soared and changed baseball forever.
Ruth played from 1914–1935, setting records and creating pandemonium wherever he went. The press and fans loved him. His feats on the…
