Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong recently voiced a provocative theory during an appearance on Kristin Cavallari’s “Let’s Be Honest” podcast, suggesting that baseball icon Babe Ruth may not have actually existed.
Prompted by Cavallari to share an unpopular opinion, Crow-Armstrong stated, “Babe Ruth never existed is one that I like.” He further elaborated that he had heard a former pitcher discuss this idea, referencing a Zoom podcast where the pitcher explored the notion that Ruth, who played from 1914 to 1935, might be a fabrication.
Crow-Armstrong appeared to be making the comment in jest, but he also seemed to cast doubt on the level of competition Ruth faced during his era. "We always talk about how the game is evolving, people might as well have been like underhanding the ball to that guy,” he said. “And he’s regarded still as one of the best players ever. Might as well dive further into it and be like, well, maybe he just never existed.”
The Cubs player referenced a 2024 interview with then-Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo, who claimed that he did not believe Ruth existed because he had only seen one video of him. Ruth’s career concluded in 1935, a time when video recording was a nascent technology, leading to less extant footage compared to modern eras. Despite this, his extensive career was well-documented through contemporary means, and individuals who saw him play were still alive shortly after his retirement.
While Saucedo leaned into the existence theory, Crow-Armstrong’s remarks seemed to question Ruth’s historical dominance in the context of his playing environment, rather than outright denying his existence.