George Herman Ruth Jr.better known as “Babe” Ruthborn on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, United States, is considered one of the greatest icons of baseball. He began his professional career at the age of 19 in 1914 with the Baltimore Orioles and, after a brief passage through the Boston Red Soxachieved fame with the New York Yankeesa team with which he transformed the sport.
As a hitter, Ruth set impressive records, including 714 home runs2,213 RBIs and 2,873 hits. Throughout his career, he won 7 World Series titles, 3 with the Red Sox and 4 with the Yankees. His impact on the sport was so great that the June 13, 1948the American League withdrew its number 3 in his honor.
“Babe”Ruth retired from baseball in 1935 at the age of 40, however, eleven years later he traveled to Mexico, invited by Jorge Pasquelthen president of the Mexican Baseball League. The purpose of the visit was to propose becoming the commissioner of Mexican baseball.
He May 16, 1946the baseball star, began a two-week visit to Mexico. Since his arrival at the then Mexico City Central Airport, he was received by a crowd of fans who were looking for his autograph on balls, t-shirts and other objects. That morning he responded to the press kindly, clarifying that his visit was solely for tourism and he did not have a diplomatic mission with the Mexican Baseball League.
He stayed at the Hotel Reforma and attended the, then, Delta Park to watch a match between Azules of Veracruz and the Alijadores of Tampico. The Mexican fans cheered him as he walked through the field, thanking them for their affection.
“The chronicles of the time describe it as an event that has rarely been seen in baseball in Mexico, but that was very special for having what is considered the best baseball player of all time,” declared Miguel Pasquel, grandson. of the manager, for an interview with ESPN Digital.
During her trip, Ruth also attended the “El Toreo” Bullringin the Condesa neighborhood, to witness the final bullfight in the historic venue. That day, the bullfighter Juan Silveti opened the bullfight, while figures such as Miguel López, “El Colombiano”, and Rodolfo Gaona, “El Califa de León”, were applauded. This event marked the closing of activities at “El Toreo” before its demolition, making Ruth the last illustrious visitor to the place.
He May 30, 1946again in the extinct Delta Park (now a shopping plaza), the former Yankee player participated in a brief hitting exhibition, during a game between the Veracruz Blues and the Red Devils of Mexico.
The American legend, at 51 years old, was received with an impressive ovation. Despite having promised not to launch again, Ruth broke her word to please the enthusiastic Mexican publicaware that his age and state of health were no longer the same.
“Three years ago I promised not to pitch again, but the Mexican public has been so good to me that I will break my promise. “Don’t expect much from me, keep in mind that I’m already 51 years old,” he admitted in the green diamond.
Ruth threw some balls while Jorge Pasquel acted as catcher. Afterwards, he stood in the batter’s box, ready to face the pitchers. First, the Cuban Ramón “The Professor” Bragaña he launched at high speed, with the apparent objective of making him uncomfortable; Bragaña, had mixed feelings towards American players due to racial prejudice in the Major Leagues.
Although Ruth did not represent this discrimination, historical resentment may have influenced the tone of the meeting. After this episode, the Mexican pitcher Alberto Romo Chavezone of the most effective pitchers in Mexico, took his place on the mound.
That’s when the unexpected happened, Ruth hit a home run that made the stadium vibrate. The audience burst into applause, remembering the golden era of the “Bambino”. That home run, which blew over the right field fence, would become he last home run Babe Ruth ever hit.
Babe Ruth, the legendary slugger, ended his life just two years after his visit to Mexico. He died on August 16, 1948at age 53, after fighting nasopharyngeal cancer, a disease that had affected him since 1946. Despite treatments, his health rapidly weakened in his final years.
His legacy in baseball is immense. In 1936, he was one of the first to be immortalized in the Baseball Hall of Fameconsolidating its status as one of the greatest.
His career and figure were so iconic that, decades later, in 2005, a collector in Boston paid 996 thousand dollars for the contract that marked his historic transfer of the Red Sox to Yankeesa move that changed the course of both franchises and the sport itself, according to the Chronicle website. Ruth remains one of the most revered and remembered figures in baseball history.
