Babe Ruth was in a class all his own and has been credited with changing baseball itself. The popularity of the game exploded in the 1920s largely due to his influence. Any description of his career inevitably includes a long list of superlatives. Ruth set career records for home runs, runs batted in (RBI), slugging percentage (SLG), and on-base plus slugging (OPS). Ruth was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season. He clearly dominated the era in which he played. He helped the New York Yankees win seven pennants and four World Series titles. He led the league in home runs during a season 12 times, SLG and OPS 13 times each, runs scored eight times, and RBIs six times. Each of those figures represents a modern record.
One thing few people know is that Babe Ruth began his career as a pitcher. In his early years, he emerged as the best left-handed pitcher in the American League. His pitching greatness was instrumental in propelling the Boston Red Sox during their best years. Ruth's pitching advantage was absolute. Amazingly, this phenomenal pitcher was an even better hitter. His uniqueness was that he excelled extraordinarily at both pitching and batting. In 1920, the year the New York Yankees acquired Ruth, he hit 54 home runs and set a slugging percentage record that stood until 2001.
However, during the years he set his famous batting records, Babe Ruth didn't pitch. He played outfield. Why? As a pitcher he had to rest his arm between games and therefore could not bat in every game. To exploit Ruth's extraordinary batting skills, the Red Sox moved him to the outfield, allowing him to bat more frequently. Although Ruth had an absolute advantage in pitching, the edge he gave his team was as a batter.
1. How was Ruth's childhood rough?
(A) He was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
(B) He was born at the turn of the last century.
(C) He spent his childhood in an orphanage.
(D) He learned baseball from Catholic missionaries.
2. How did Ruth get into professional baseball?
(A) He chose baseball rather than follow in his father's footsteps.
(B) He pitched and won a game against a local college team.
(C) He was recommended to a team manager by pitcher Joe Engel.
(D) His pitching ability was noticed by the manager of the Orioles.
3. What made Ruth unique in baseball?
(A) He was the best pitcher in the American League.
(B) He was the best pitcher and batter of his era.
(C) He could bat more often when he rested his arm.
(D) He was the only player to have a comparative advantage.
4. What advantage did Ruth bring to his team?
(A) He was most valuable as a batter.
(B) He excelled at pitching only.
(C) He was an expert at stealing bases.
(D) He was better at pitching than batting.
贝比鲁斯有自己的风格，也对改变棒球这项运动有功。这项运动的风行在 1920 年代迅速扩展，很大的程度上是由于他的影响。任何对他职涯的描述必然包括了一长串最卓越头衔的清单。鲁斯当时创下了生涯全垒打最多的纪录（编按：714 支全垒打，直到 1974 年才被汉克．阿伦所打破）、最多打点、最高长打率以及攻击指数。鲁斯也是第一个在单一球季击出 60 支全垒打的球员。在他当球员的时代，他明显主宰了这个时代。他帮助了纽约洋基队赢得了 7 次联盟冠军及 4 次世界冠军的头衔。他得到联盟季赛的全垒打王 12 次、最高长打率及攻击指数各 13 次、最多得分 8 次以及最多打点 6 次。这些数字在在都可作为现代纪录的代表。
显少人知道贝比鲁斯是以担任投手开启他的职业棒球生涯的。他在早期成为美国联盟最出色的左投。他非凡的投球技术在那几年帮助波士顿红袜队推至最高锋。鲁斯的投球优势是无庸置疑的。不过令人惊讶的是，这名杰出的投手竟是一位更好的打击者。他的独特之处在于他不论在投球或是打击都格外出众。1920 年，也就是纽约洋基队获得鲁斯的那一年，他击出了 54 支的全垒打，并创下一个直到 2001 年前都没被人打破的高长打率。
不过，在鲁斯没有投球的这几年，他创下了他知名的打击纪录。他镇守外野，为什么呢？当一个投手，他必须在每场赛事间让手臂得到休养，因此他无法每一场都上场打击。为了利用鲁斯的超凡打击技巧，波士顿红袜队将他移防外野，让他能多些打击机会。虽然鲁斯在投球上拥有绝对优势，但身为打者的他更能带给其球队优势。
答案： 1. C 2. C 3. B 4. A
贝比鲁斯魔咒（The Curse of the Bambino）源于 1918 年波士顿红袜队获得世界大赛（美国大联盟年度总冠军赛）冠军后，该队老板为解决个人财务问题，竟将阵中王牌巨星贝比鲁斯（Babe Ruth）高价卖给死对头纽约洋基队。这本来不过是一件商业上的行为，但波士顿红袜队却在之后的 86 年内与世界大赛冠军无缘，直到 2004 年才再度封王。坊间流传80 几年前，当 Babe Ruth 获知自己被红袜队卖掉的时候曾经说过：『我诅咒红袜队在我死后 1 百年内永远拿不到总冠军！』
不过美国史学家考证了几十年后，发现 Babe Ruth 其实并没有发过这个毒咒，但是史学家可以证实 Babe Ruth 当年真的是异常愤怒！如果 The Curse of the Bambino 这回事真的存在的话，那应该是来自于贝比鲁斯对于红袜队的超强怨念吧。
（数据源：台湾棒球维基馆）
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