Arguably, Babe Ruth is the greatest athlete that ever lived. He is the most proflic hitter in the game of baseball: 2nd highest on base percentage, 2nd in rbi's, #1 slugging average,2nd in home run percentage - behind a juiced up mcguire, 3rd in extra base hits,2nd on base percentage and a .968 fielding average - not bad The Babe would have been the best at what ever position he played.Some years he hit more home runs than all the other teams combined - with no steroids - didn't even lift weights!! Go figure

Ruth has an undeserved reputation as a big slow fat guy. He was, in fact an aggressive baserunner with deceptive speed, a lot like John Kruk was in the early nineties. He was also considered a better than average defensive fielder, and was not just in the lineup for his bat. While there have been several better defensive right fielders, Ruth had a good arm and good baseball judgement.

And to add a little sidebar for the folks who get all worked up about Sosa's corked bat, let me provide a little anecdote. In 1983 Hillerich and Bradsby, the bat makers, put on a travelling exhibit that featured, among other artifacts a bat used by Babe Ruth. A cursory examination (it could clearly be seen with the naked eye) showed the bat corked, the plug eminently visible. My point is that corking bats is nothing new to baseball, and if anyone of his era was likely to do it, it would be Ruth. He constantly tested the limits of the rules and refused to accept that they applied to him.

While some could claim that others had more athletic ability, or were stronger, or faster, or better fielders, or whatever, and they may have a case, I also choose Ruth as the best simply because no other player has ever dominated such a long stretch for so long. A legend whose importance and fame goes beyond the game itself and he defines that whole era. Plus admit it, every guy ever deep down secretly would like to have lived it up like he did!

Better pitcher than a right fielder. But, of course, saying Ruth is the greatest right fielder of all time is like saying Einstein was the greatest Patent Clerk of all time. Ruth is the greatest athlete in American history.

super player. arguably the best of all time - regardless of position.

super player. arguably the best of all time - regardless of position.

The greatest of all time. Ted Williams and Aaron slightly behind him, even though Williams was a better pure hitter and Aaron had more home runs, and here's why. Aaron spent most of his career in anonymity, very little controversy, mostly on teams that went home October 1st. Williams in Boston, took five years off, in the prime of his career, to fight in WWII and Korea. Ruth spent most of his career in the glaring spotlight of New York, with every opponent determined to beat him and make him look bad. As Irish clarifies, he was a total ballplayer: he pitched, hit, ran, fielded and drove in runs. And won World Championships. How many players today have great career numbers with post-season batting averages lower than their own weight? Not Ruth. The one item that elevates Ruth over everyone else is how dominant he was compared to other players of his day. Talk about separation. He hit 60 HR in 1927. No other team in either league (yes, TEAM) hit 60 home runs that year.

The best ballplayer of all time.

only a few ball players come close to the sultan of swat.THE BABE IS #1 ALL TIME RIGHT FIELDER PERIOD !

Not only a great on the field player, but an argument could be made that without him, baseball may not have survived the gambling scandals (culminating with the 1919 World Series). Ruth's larger than life persona, couple with the previously unseen power numbers really boosted fan interest and fit well with the flavor of the roaring 20's. Don't forget that .847 slugging percentage in 1921.