Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has become the latest sports figure to entertain a bizarre conspiracy theory, suggesting that baseball legend Babe Ruth may not have existed. Crow-Armstrong shared his thoughts on podcaster Kristin Cavallari's show, explaining he heard pitcher Tayler Saucedo discuss the idea.
"This is gonna be crazy," Crow-Armstrong said. "Babe Ruth never existed… I heard some pitcher with the Mariners, [Tayler] Saucedo, he did some podcast on Zoom when he was like going down the rabbit hole on how Babe Ruth never existed, and I was like 'wow!'"
Ruth, born George Herman 'Babe' Ruth in 1895 and died in 1948, was a prominent figure in 20th-century American culture. He was a renowned hitter and pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. His impact on baseball was significant, with his home run records standing for decades.
In 1934, Ruth embarked on a barnstorming tour of Japan, where he was reportedly mobbed by thousands of fans, indicating his widespread recognition even in international contexts prior to World War II. His last surviving teammate passed away in 2009.
Crow-Armstrong's comments echo previous instances of athletes engaging with unconventional theories. Kyrie Irving, for example, previously gained attention for his views on a flat Earth, and former Red Sox slugger Carl Everett questioned the authenticity of dinosaur fossils.
Crow-Armstrong suggested that the evolution of baseball and the perceived ease with which Ruth achieved his statistics could lead some to question his existence. "It's like, we always talk about how the game's evolving. And people might as well have been like underhanding the ball to that guy and he's regarded still as one of the best players ever," Crow-Armstrong stated. "You might as well dive further into it and be like 'well, maybe he just never existed.'"
Babe Ruth's career began with the Boston Red Sox in 1914, where he excelled as both a pitcher and a hitter. He led the American League in earned-run average in 1916 and set a World Series record with 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, a record that remained unbroken until 1961. After being traded to the New York Yankees before the 1920 season, Ruth transitioned primarily to hitting.
In the batter's box, Ruth broke existing home run records. Ned Williamson's 1884 record of 27 home runs was surpassed by Ruth's 29 in 1919. He then hit 54 home runs in 1920 and 59 in 1921, ultimately setting a then-record of 60 home runs in 1927, which stood for 34 years. He retired with 714 career home runs, a total that still ranks third all-time in Major League Baseball history.
