Babe Ruth is the single most famous baseball player in the entire world. Babe Ruth is also one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. The Bambino's slugging ability was so great, his last name became an adjective — "Ruthian" — used to describe performances of heroic proportion. We could effortlessly write an entire book (more books about Babe Ruth have been written than any other player) here, but will stick to a mere handful of career highlights. Babe Ruth the "champion": Ruth was a World Series champion seven times (1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932).
The American League home run champion twelve times (1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931), the RBI Champion six times (1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1926, 1928), the On-Base Percentage Champion ten times (1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1932) and the Slugging Average Champion thirteen times (1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931)!
Babe Ruth the "home run king": Ruth was the first player in Major League history to hit 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 home runs. In 1919, Ruth hit 29 home runs becoming the all-time single-season home-run leader. A year later Ruth hit 54 home runs, breaking his own record as the all-time single-season home run leader and became the first player to hit over 50 home runs in a season. The very next year, he hit 59 home runs, breaking his own record yet again. Finally, in 1927, The Sultan of Swat hit 60 home runs, breaking the mark and establishing a plateau that was legendary for decades. Currently, Ruth still holds records for most home runs in any decade (467 in the 1920s), fastest player to hit 600 home runs (2,044 games) and fastest player to hit 700 home runs (2,418 games).
Babe Ruth the "best left-handed pitcher in baseball": Ruth was 18-8 with a 2.44 ERA his first full season on the mound (1915), twenty-wins club (23-12) the very next year (and the ERA Champion, 1.75), and twenty-wins club (24-13) the year after that. Ruth still holds pitching records for most shutouts in a season by a lefty with 9 (tied by Ron Guidry in 1978) and most innings pitched (14) in a World Series game, on October 9, 1916, a complete game 2-1 victory. Babe Ruth the "postseason prince": Ruth set World Series records with 3 homers in a game (and did it twice) and 12 total bases in a game. His 15 postseason home runs, all hit during World Series games, were a record until Mickey Mantle tied him in 1963 then eventually passed him in 1964. And let us never forget the 1932 World Series, legendary and debatable still to this day, courtesy of "The Called Shot".
Babe Ruth the "nickname collector": Babe (which some actually believe is his real name due to its use) probably had more well-published nicknames than any other player and here are but a few we have seen in print: The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, The Colossus of Clout, The Wazir of Wham, The Maharajah of Mash, The Rajah of Rap, The Caliph of Clout, the Behemoth of Bust, The Mammoth of Maul, The Mauling Mastodon, The Mauling Monarch, The Wali of Wollop, and to his teammates, Jidge.
Babe Ruth the "hall of fame legend": Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on February 2, 1936, by the Baseball Writers Association of America, as part of the inaugural class of inductees. At the time of his induction, Ruth held literally hundreds, and we mean hundreds, of baseball records. The single most prolific hitter in baseball history, a key component in "Murderer's Row" and a charismatic personality — both on and off the field — that made him a larger-than-life figure and one of the greatest sports heroes, not just in baseball, but in American culture.
Babe Ruth is part of an elite set of pitchers in Major League history whose career on the mound spanned at least ten seasons and NEVER once included a losing record! The other aces: Spud Chandler (11 seasons), Dizzy Dean (12 seasons), Dave Foutz (11 seasons), Joe McGinnity (10 seasons), Andy Pettitte (18 seasons), Deacon Phillippe (13 seasons), Jay Powell (11 seasons) and Urban Shocker (13 seasons).
Babe Ruth | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1936 (HOF) xemptyzThe National Baseball Hall of Fame inaugural class included: Ty Cobb (98.23%), Babe Ruth (95.13%), Honus Wagner (95.13%), Christy Mathewson (90.71%) and Walter Johnson (83.63%), five of the finest players in baseball history selected to begin a tradition in Cooperstown.
In my opinion, to be eligible for GOAT status, it has to be an individual sport. Team sports have too many variables and all the greats had great supporting casts. Also, besides being great on the field of battle, they must exhibit great character and integrity, and transcend their sport, as well as being great role models, and being household names to everyone including those who don't follow the sport. With that criteria, I nominee Arnold Palmer and Jim Ryun.
Gretzky has 1,963 career assists. The guy with the second most points (assists PLUS goals) is at 1,921. Oh, and Gretzky has 894 goals too….
To be fair, with salary cap, there will never ever be a lineup like Gretz had or even close to it ever again. That was tailored made for Cups, Goals and assists. But he took advantage of it and yes he is the GOAT. He is probably the most lopsided GOAT by the numbers. As you said, throw out ALL his goals, he is still the all time points leader!!! Most unbreakable record.
Not true. You have to remember that those Oilers teams were very young. When they won their first Cup nine of the top ten scorers and both goalies were under 23.
You are in all due respect missing my point. I'm not saying the were the best in their sport but they were certainly the most influential in and off the field. They transcended their sport and were household names. They were of high moral character and integrity. Above reproach. There was no-one who didn't know who they were or respected them. Even to this day. Who on this board who grew up in the 60s or 70s didn't start running because of Jim Ryun? I for one did. How many SI covers was he on? Who didn't follow Arnie's Army? Jack was a better golfer for sure, but certainly not as loved and respected as Arnie. El G was a faster miler, but who outside hardcore followers of the sport even know who he is? Ask 10 people who Bekele of Kigchoge is? To this day, both of these gentlemen: Palmer and Ryun (and I say gentlemen) continue to inspire others. I don't think you can say that about anyone else. Not Ruth, not Ali, not Gretsky, not Brady, not Tiger, not Phelps, not Serena, not Biles. All all-time great athletes for sure, but I submit that no-one and I mean no-one has transcended their sport as Palmer and Ryun did. They are the GOATS in my book. Argue me if you wish.
You are in all due respect missing my point. I'm not saying the were the best in their sport but they were certainly the most influential in and off the field. They transcended their sport and were household names. They were of high moral character and integrity. Above reproach. There was no-one who didn't know who they were or respected them. Even to this day. Who on this board who grew up in the 60s or 70s didn't start running because of Jim Ryun? I for one did. How many SI covers was he on? Who didn't follow Arnie's Army? Jack was a better golfer for sure, but certainly not as loved and respected as Arnie. El G was a faster miler, but who outside hardcore followers of the sport even know who he is? Ask 10 people who Bekele of Kigchoge is? To this day, both of these gentlemen: Palmer and Ryun (and I say gentlemen) continue to inspire others. I don't think you can say that about anyone else. Not Ruth, not Ali, not Gretsky, not Brady, not Tiger, not Phelps, not Serena, not Biles. All all-time great athletes for sure, but I submit that no-one and I mean no-one has transcended their sport as Palmer and Ryun did. They are the GOATS in my book. Argue me if you wish.
I didn't miss your point. Even with your criteria I don't view them as best of their own sport. I could walk around my company and ask my employees who Jim Ryun is and not one would know. Not a single one.
In my opinion, to be eligible for GOAT status, it has to be an individual sport. Team sports have too many variables and all the greats had great supporting casts. Also, besides being great on the field of battle, they must exhibit great character and integrity, and transcend their sport, as well as being great role models, and being household names to everyone including those who don't follow the sport. With that criteria, I nominee Arnold Palmer and Jim Ryun.
Palmer and Ryun don't even fit your own criteria. They might have been "household names" once upon a time. But how many people know them today?