Beer And Babe Ruth: A Historical Perspective

Babe Ruth, the baseball legend, is known for his heavy drinking. He started drinking beer before he was a teenager and continued to do so throughout his career. His drinking habits were well-known, and he was often portrayed as a boozy party animal. Despite his excessive drinking, he was an incredibly successful baseball player, breaking records and drawing huge crowds to ballparks across the country. His talent and larger-than-life personality made him an American hero.

Babe Ruth's drinking during the prohibition era

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for 22 seasons between 1914 and 1935, winning seven World Series titles and hitting 714 home runs. However, he was also known for his prodigious appetite for food, drink, and "sexual shenanigans".

Ruth's drinking habits started early; he was drinking beer and chewing tobacco before he was a teenager. His mother was reputedly an alcoholic, and his father, a saloon owner, was killed in a drunken brawl in 1918. Ruth himself was an enthusiastic beer drinker, and later developed a taste for Scotch whisky.

The introduction of Prohibition in 1920 did little to curb his drinking. As a wealthy celebrity, he could easily access alcohol through bootleggers. Joe Duggan, a fellow baseball player with the Yankees, recalled that Ruth had a bootlegger in every town. He would throw boozy parties for his teammates and anyone else who happened to be at the hotel. Despite his heavy drinking, Ruth's performance on the baseball field did not seem to suffer. One biographer recounts a story of a reporter who questioned Ruth about drinking whisky the night before a game. Ruth replied, "Last night we killed a bottle of Scotch between us, and I had two home runs today. I don't want to break the spell."

Ruth's drinking habits extended beyond the Prohibition era. After retiring from baseball, he continued to drink regularly, often having several Scotches a day. His health began to deteriorate in the early 1940s, and he died in 1948 at the age of 53.

Ruth's alcohol consumption before games

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. was a baseball player with a legendary talent and a legendary appetite for food, drink, and women. He was a prodigious baseball talent, but he was also a heavy drinker, and his drinking is said to have had an adverse effect on his team.

Ruth was a drinker from a young age. He began drinking beer before he was a teenager and was sent to a reformatory, where he was declared “incorrigible”. He was a talented left-handed pitcher, and his career took off when he was allowed to switch to his preferred position as a big-hitting outfielder. But his drinking was already a problem. In 1922, New York Yankees owner Colonel Jake Ruppert drew up a contract to make him limit his drinking and late-night partying.

Ruth’s drinking continued throughout his career, and he was known to have a bootlegger in every town. He was also a big Scotch whisky drinker, and he would throw boozy parties for his teammates and anyone else who dropped by the hotel. He was also known to drink before games. On one occasion, he summoned a reporter to his hotel room the night before a game and poured him a large whisky. The reporter questioned the wisdom of drinking so close to the game, to which Ruth replied: “Last night we killed a bottle of Scotch between us, and I had two home runs today. I don’t want to break the spell.”

On another occasion, the White Sox took him out before a game and got him loaded on punch made by a Chicago-sympathetic bartender. They thought he wouldn’t be able to play the next day, but he showed up, dominated the game, and asked where they were going for drinks after.

The influence of his family on his drinking

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. was a baseball player with a legendary talent and a legendary appetite for food, drink, and women. He was also known for his heavy drinking, which started in his youth.

Ruth’s mother was reportedly an alcoholic, and his father, a saloon owner, was killed in a drunken brawl in 1918. This family history of substance use likely influenced Ruth’s own drinking habits. He began drinking beer before he reached his teens and continued to drink excessively throughout his adult life, even during the Prohibition era.

One of Ruth’s biographers, Leigh Montville, recounts a story that illustrates Ruth’s excessive drinking. On one occasion, a reporter was summoned to Ruth’s hotel room late at night before a game. Ruth poured the reporter a large whisky, and when the reporter questioned the wisdom of drinking so close to the game, Ruth replied, “Last night we killed a bottle of Scotch between us, and I had two home runs today. I don’t want to break the spell.”

Despite his heavy drinking, Ruth was an incredibly successful baseball player, breaking batting records and hitting home runs. This fuelled the legend of Babe Ruth and his ability to perform on the field despite his off-field indulgences.

After his baseball career ended, Ruth continued to drink heavily. He died in 1948 at the age of 53, with supplies of Scotch whisky sent up to his apartment from the local liquor store.

His alcohol consumption after his baseball career

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. was a baseball player with a legendary talent and a legendary appetite for food, drink, and women. He is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time, and his career spanned 22 seasons between 1914 and 1935.

Ruth's drinking habits were well-known, and he was often portrayed as a heavy drinker of beer, Scotch whisky, and other alcoholic beverages. He was said to have a "throat like a trombone" and was known for his ability to consume large amounts of alcohol without seeming to be affected by it. His drinking continued into his post-baseball years, and he was known to frequent backwoods New Jersey speakeasies until his death at the age of 53.

After retiring from baseball, golf became Ruth's main interest, and he often enjoyed a few Scotches with his lunch and during his rounds. He also continued to indulge in his other vices, including cigars and visits to brothels.

Ruth's alcohol consumption was likely influenced by his family history. His mother was reportedly an alcoholic, and his father, a saloon owner, was killed in a drunken brawl in 1918. Despite the introduction of Prohibition in 1920, Ruth's wealth and fame ensured he always had access to alcohol.

While Ruth's drinking was well-documented, it is important to note that many stories about his exploits, both on and off the field, may have been exaggerated or embellished over time. However, his talent and skill in baseball are undeniable, and he remains one of the greatest sports stars in American history.

How his drinking affected his health

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. was a baseball player with a legendary talent and a legendary appetite for food, drink, and women. He was a prodigious talent, playing for teams in Baltimore before he began his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Boston Red Sox in 1914. He moved to the New York Yankees in 1920, switching from pitcher to his preferred position as a big-hitting outfielder.

However, his drinking is also the stuff of legend. He began drinking beer before he reached his teens and, despite the introduction of Prohibition in 1920, his newfound wealth and fame meant he could access alcohol whenever and wherever he wanted. He was known to have a bootlegger in every town and would throw boozy parties for his teammates and anyone else who happened to be at the hotel.

His drinking continued throughout his career and into retirement. He died in 1948 at just 53 years old. While his drinking did not seem to affect his game, it undoubtedly took its toll on his health.

Ruth's drinking, combined with his voracious appetite for food, likely contributed to his obesity. This, in turn, would have put him at a higher risk of various health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. The excessive alcohol consumption would have also damaged his liver, increasing his risk of liver disease and cancer.

In addition, Ruth's drinking may have led to other unhealthy behaviours, such as his fondness for cigars. Cigar smoking is known to increase the risk of various types of cancer, including lung, mouth, and throat cancer. The combination of heavy drinking and smoking also has a detrimental effect on the body, increasing the risk of certain cancers and other health problems.

While Ruth's talent in baseball is undisputed, his early death at 53 years old can likely be attributed, at least in part, to his excessive drinking and the associated health risks.

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