[Paal Gulli]

Something that gets lost in history is that before the Babe-- and this admittedly is hard to believe -- the home run wasn't considered a legitimate offensive weapon. Managers encouraged batters to keep the ball in play instead because swinging for the fence was considered a low percentage play.

When Ruth hit 29 in 1919, the existing record -- 27 -- had been set by Ned Williamson for the Chicago White Stockings 35 years earlier in 1884!

And the very next season, 1920, Ruth changed the game forever when he exactly doubled Williamson's record at 54.

Nobody, not Gretzky, not Jordan, not Jim Brown, not Tiger, not Ali, not Pele, nobody ever shook up his sport like the Babe.

[dfwgator]

Something that gets lost in history is that before the Babe-- and this admittedly is hard to believe -- the home run wasn't considered a legitimate offensive weapon. Managers encouraged batters to keep the ball in play instead because swinging for the fence was considered a low percentage play.

But Chicks Dig The Long Ball!