ble player to New York Yankee owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert. Ruppert bought Ruths contract for over $100,000, which was a staggering price at the time. In 1920, Ruth joined the Yankees, who as yet had never won a pennant. For years they played in the shadow of the New York Giants. Without a baseball park to call their own, the Yankees were forced to hold their games at the Giants Polo Grounds. Ruth started as a full-time outfielder, hitting 54 home runs his first year with the Yankees. Shortly after, he became baseballs preeminent player, and such a drawing card that New York built a new stadium for the crowds he was attracting. Yankee Stadium had its opening day on April 4, 1923, with a total attendance of 74,000. The stadium became known as The House That Ruth Built, and the period became known as the Golden Age of Baseball. On opening day, Ruth made the first home run in Yankee Stadium history. Ruth's slugging percentages in 1920 and 1921 were .847 and .846. Neither figure has ever been approached. In fact, a slugging percentage higher than .704 has been achieved only 20 times, eight by Ruth. In 1923, hitting .393, he was named the leagues Most Valuable Player, and capped off the year by ushering the Yankees to their first World Series Championship. He also led the American League in home runs from 1919-1924, and again from 1926-1931. In 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, breaking his own record, and setting a new one that would endure for decades (Roger Maris broke it in 1961). With an exceptional year, he assumed almost mythic status, and was nicknamed The Sultan of Swat, The Home Run King, and Herman the Great. Off the field Ruth reveled in his celebrity status, enjoying a wild and extravagant life. However, his high living and headstrong behavior eventually began to take a toll on his performance. He was still baseballs premier player but fellow teammate and newcomer Lou Gehrig started to show signs of greatness as well. The year 1931 wa...
