Page 8 - My FlipBook

After the 1919 season, the Red Sox sold
Ruth’s contract to the New York Yankees.
Ruth donned the Yankees pinstripes, an

event that many historians call the beginning
of baseball’s golden age (1920–1960). In

1920 Ruth hit 54 home runs. That was
almost five times more than he’d hit in 1918
to win the AL home run title. In 1921 he

raised the bar again, slugging 59 home runs.
Six seasons later, he blasted 60 dingers, a
record that stood for almost 35 years. As

Ruth set records, the rest of baseball was
Babe Ruth watches his 60th home run of the season
soar out of Yankee Stadium on September 30, 1927. catching up. In 1921 just six batters hit 20 or
more dingers. In 1930, 19 batters did it.

The game had evolved. The dead ball era was over, and the defining feature of
the golden age was the home run.

INTEGRATION AND A NEW WAVE OF

SLUGGERS

On the field, baseball advanced by leaps and bounds in the 1920s and 1930s.
The game finally resembled the version that modern fans know. It was more

popular than ever. MLB was spreading across the country, growing its fan base and
expanding into new markets.
Yet socially, the game reflected the racist beliefs of many white people in this era.

By unwritten agreement, MLB owners did not employ people of color as players.
People of color who wanted to play pro baseball joined the Negro Leagues, a group
of loosely organized teams. Negro Leagues players earned just a fraction of the

10 It’s Outta Here!