How One Man Transformed a Franchise — and Baseball Itself

When the New York Yankees acquired Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox in late 1919, they didn’t just get a power hitter. They ignited a cultural shift in baseball, launched a dynasty, and reshaped the very identity of the sport. This was the dawn of the Yankees as we know them — the Bronx Bombers, the evil empire, the most iconic team in sports history.

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1920: The Arrival of the Sultan of Swat

Babe Ruth debuted with the Yankees in 1920 and immediately changed the game. He hit 54 home runs, more than any entire team in the league. His larger-than-life presence packed the Polo Grounds with fans and put the Yankees on the national map.

More than a power hitter, Ruth was a showman. His swagger, charisma, and moonshot home runs made him a fan favorite and the centerpiece of the Yankees’ transformation.

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1921–1923: The Yankees Contend

Ruth continued to dominate, helping the Yankees reach their first World Series in 1921, though they fell to the Giants. They returned in 1922 and lost again. But in 1923, everything came together.

• The Yankees opened Yankee Stadium, known as “The House That Ruth Built.”

• They defeated the Giants in the World Series, capturing their first championship.

It was a turning point: the Yankees were no longer underdogs. They were champions — and just getting started.

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The Murderers’ Row Years

In the mid-1920s, the Yankees built one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball history, headlined by:

• Babe Ruth

• Lou Gehrig

• Earle Combs

• Bob Meusel

• Tony Lazzeri

This lineup peaked in 1927, a season many still consider the greatest team in MLB history. The ’27 Yankees went 110–44, swept the Pirates in the World Series, and Ruth hit a then-record 60 home runs.

They were dubbed “Murderers’ Row”, and they lived up to the name.

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The End of Ruth’s Era

Though Ruth remained dominant into the early 1930s, age and internal conflict (particularly with manager Joe McCarthy) began to wear him down. In 1934, Ruth played his final full season with the Yankees. His departure in 1935 marked the end of an era — but not the end of Yankees dominance.

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Legacy of the Babe Ruth Era

• 4 AL Pennants

• 3 World Series Titles

• Transformed the Yankees into a cultural institution

• Popularized power-hitting and ushered in the modern era of baseball

Babe Ruth didn’t just change the Yankees — he was the Yankees. He made them winners, built their brand, and paved the way for the dynasties to come.