Some know him as “The Great Bambino”, “The Sultan of Swat” or even by his given name, George Herman Ruth Jr., but most know him as Babe Ruth. Ruth is one of the biggest legends to ever play baseball. Each year on April 27, Ruth is celebrated and remembered across the nation.

Ruth has influenced young athletes all across the athletic community for decades. That holds true for some of the Hornets on the baseball team, who idolize Ruth.

“There is no doubt that Babe Ruth is a legend,” said Hornet right fielder Shane Carrier.

Ruth started his Major League Baseball career in 1914 with the Boston Red Sox as a left-handed pitcher. With the Red Sox, Ruth broke the world series record for consecutive scoreless innings. He also won 89 games in only six years with Boston.

In 1920 Ruth was traded to the New York Yankee’s and it was believed that a curse was started. Before the trade, the Red Sox were the most successful franchise in baseball and the Yankees were a mediocre team at best. The Yankees went on to become MLB’s most successful franchise, while the Red Sox did not win a championship for 86 years.

With New York he was used for his bat rather than his arm.

“Babe Ruth without a doubt changed the game, his home runs created a new excitement around the game of baseball as more and more players started hitting for power,” Carrier said.

Ruth retired in 1935 after playing out a partial season with the Boston Braves. He ended his 22-year MLB career with 714 home runs, including a record 60 home runs during the 1927 season. Ruth also ended his career with 2,873 hits, 2,213 RBIs, 2,174 runs, 136 triples, 506 doubles and 123 stolen bases.

Ruth’s slugging percentage ended at .690 overall with a .342 batting average and .474 on base percentage. In 1936 Ruth was inducted into the baseball’s Hall of Fame. Only a few years later Ruth died of throat cancer in 1949.

“Babe Ruth is one of the best, if not the best, sluggers in the history of baseball,” said Carrier. “His numbers will forever be legendary no matter who passes them up.”

Happy National Babe Ruth Day.