On July 11, 1914, George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox. Ruth's baseball career -- spanning 21 years and including 714 home runs -- remains relevant in the American consciousness a century later.
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Babe Ruth through the years

Babe Ruth, a century later

On July 11, 1914, George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox. Ruth’s baseball career -- spanning 21 years and including 714 home runs -- remains relevant in the American consciousness a century later.   (Tom Sande / Associated Press)

A young star in Boston

From 1914 to 1919, Ruth starred for the Boston Red Sox as a pitcher. He led the Sox to three World Series titles, in 1915, 1916 and 1918.  (Transcendental Graphics / Getty Images)

Superstar slugger in New York

In 1919, the Boston Red Sox sold Ruth to the New York Yankees. Ruth transformed from a star pitcher to an iconic slugger with the Yankees, hitting 54, 59, and 60 home runs in 1920, 1921, and 1927, respectively.  (United Press International / Associated Press)

Ruth playing in Brea

On October 31, 1924, Ruth played an exhibition game at the old Brea Bowl in Orange County. Ruth hit two home runs in the game.   (Brea Museum and Heritage Center / Los Angeles Times)

Babe Ruth and George H.W. Bush

By 1948, Ruth’s health started to fail. Ruth, looking gaunt and weak at Yale Field, presents the original manuscript of “The Babe Ruth Story” to Yale baseball captain and future President George H. W. Bush.  (Don Holston / Associated Press)

One final ovation

Babe Ruth receives a final ovation at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948, just two months before his death at age 53. Nat Fein won a Pulitzer Prize for this photograph.  (Nat Fein/ Associated Press)

The curse of the Bambino ends

Babe Ruth’s grave is decorated with items left by New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox fans in Hawthorne, N.Y., in 2004. The “Curse of the Bambino,” which purportedly started in 1919 after the Red Sox sold Ruth, ended in 2004, when Boston won the World Series to end an 86-year championship drought.  (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)

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