Babe Ruth was an American baseball legend whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 years and is considered one of the greatest of all time.
Ruth started as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but his time with the New York Yankees as an outfielder is among the records in history. He achieved his greatest fame due to his extraordinary slugging form and has set an all-time slugging record of .6897 which is still unscathed.
Babe Ruth’s Contract Breakdown
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Yearly Cash |
| 1914-1919 | $4,000 | - | $4,000 |
| 1920-1921 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| 1922-1924 | $52,000 | - | $52,000 |
| 1924-1929 | $70,000 | - | $70,000 |
| 1930-1931 | $80,000 | - | $80,000 |
| 1932 | $75,000 | - | $75,000 |
| 1933 | $52,000 | - | $52,000 |
| 1934-1935 | $35,000 | - | $35,000 |
Source: sabr.org, archive.nytimes.com, palmbeachpost.com.
How much was Babe Ruth getting paid?
Babe Ruth's salary of $80 thousand in 1930-1931 would be worth about $1.2 million in 2023 after adjusting for inflation. Ruth’s salary was considered the highest in baseball at the time.
How much did Babe Ruth make in a minute?
Considering Ruth’s highest salary of $80 thousand per year in 1931, we divide the amount by the total number of minutes in a year (i.e., 525,600 minutes), the amount we draw in is roughly 15 cents, but it becomes $2.2 per minute with inflation as of 2023.
Babe Ruth’s Career Earnings
Babe Ruth's total career earnings of $856.9 thousand are equivalent to $18.7 million in 2023 when adjusted for inflation, as per baseballreference.com.
What were the terms of Babe Ruth’s contract?
Babe Ruth’s prime contract in the 1930s was a deal of $80 thousand annually and guaranteed a total value of $160 thousand over two years. The specific terms of Babe Ruth's contract are not publicly known.
Babe Ruth’s Contract History
Boston Red Sox (1914–1919): Babe Ruth received a salary of $4 thousand as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, as per archive.nytimes.com.
New York Yankees (1920–1934): Babe Ruth’s first contract with the Yankees paid him $10 thousand per year, which saw a monumental increase to $52 thousand per year for three seasons in 1922. Like his fame and progress, his contract value soared as well, and at his peak, he earned $80 thousand per year with the Yankees.
Boston Braves (1935): Babe Ruth’s contract before his retirement was $35 thousand with the Boston Braves after a year's tenure.
FAQs
Q. What are Babe Ruth's career home run records?
A. Babe Ruth holds the career home run record with 714 home runs.
A. Babe Ruth holds the career home run record with 714 home runs.
Q. What are Babe Ruth's career batting records?
A. Babe Ruth's career batting average is .342, and his career slugging percentage is .6897. He also holds a career RBI record with 2,214 RBIs.
A. Babe Ruth's career batting average is .342, and his career slugging percentage is .6897. He also holds a career RBI record with 2,214 RBIs.
Q. What are Babe Ruth's career awards?
A. Babe Ruth was a 12-time All-Star, a 7-time World Series champion, and a one-time American League MVP in 1923.
A. Babe Ruth was a 12-time All-Star, a 7-time World Series champion, and a one-time American League MVP in 1923.
Q. When was Babe Ruth born?
A. Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland.
A. Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland.
