Babe Ruth Stats

Even after all these years, Babe Ruth stats still rank as some of the best in the history of Major League Baseball. When Ruth made his professional debut on July 11, 1914, few people would have been able to predict the impact his stats would have on the sport. Throughout a legendary 21-season career with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Babe Ruth changed the game forever.

1. Batting Average. Babe Ruth’s career batting average was a hefty .342, thanks to consistency throughout each year. This stat is inflated thanks to a remarkable stretch from 1917 to 1933, when his average dipped below .300 during only one season. In 1924, his .378 was tops in the league.
2. Hits. Ruth never led the league in this stat, but he still managed to put up numbers that are impressive even today. He had 2873 hits during his career, with his best effort coming in 1923. Ruth socked 205 hits that season.
3. Runs Batted In. Babe Ruth stats that showcase his power are everyone’s favorites. The big-hitting Ruth led the league in RBI during six seasons, notching a career total of 2213. His crowning year for this stat came in 1921, when he amassed 171 RBI for the season.
4. Runs. Babe Ruth was a member of some legendary teams heavy on talent. His teammates and his long-ball ability helped Ruth to a career 2174 runs, and he led the league in this stat during eight seasons. The summer of 1921 was Ruth’s best year for runs, as he posted 177 on the season.
5. Wins. Babe Ruth stats don’t just apply to batting. He began his career as a pitcher, and he was a good one. He racked up 94 wins on the mound, most of them coming with the Red Sox. In 1916, he had 23 wins, a mark he bettered by one the very next season.
6. Complete Games. Though it seems nearly inconceivable by today’s conservative pitching standards, Ruth threw a staggering 107 complete games during his relatively short career on the mound. In 1917, he started 38 games, and went the distance in 35 of them.
7. Strikeouts. As a pitcher, Babe Ruth was more than capable of getting the ball into the strike zone. He amassed 488 career strikeouts, most of them coming in the 1915 to 1917 seasons. In 1916, Ruth struck out 170 batters, a stat that indicates he could have had success as a career pitcher.
8. Home Runs. Of all the Babe Ruth stats, his long-ball prowess is his most well-known. His 714 career home runs are a mark only bettered by Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron. Ruth socked 60 round-trippers in 1927, forever etching his name alongside history’s greatest power hitters.
9. On Base Percentage. Babe Ruth led the league in this stat during nine seasons, which is a testament to his patience at the plate. His career OBP was a lofty .474, a mark no doubt inflated by the opposition’s reluctance to give him something to hit.
10. Awards. Had the many awards and accolades of today’s game existed during Babe Ruth’s playing years, no doubt he would have garnered more tangible acclaim. He made the All-Star team in 1933 and 1934, the first years of its existence. Ruth also received career validation in his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1936, and the retirement of his number in 1948.