Babe Ruth, the "Sultan of Swat," remains a towering figure in baseball history. Beyond his legendary hitting prowess, stories about his larger-than-life persona, including his eating habits, have become the stuff of legend. While his diet might raise eyebrows by today's nutritional standards, and his training regime was not as rigorous as modern athletes, understanding the context of his era sheds light on how he fueled his remarkable career.
The Myth of the Out-of-Shape Slugger
For decades, the prevailing narrative was that "Babe Ruth never lifted weights." This idea was often used to question the value of strength training in baseball. However, this perception is inaccurate. Leigh Montville's biography, "The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth," challenges this notion, arguing that exercise and discipline played crucial roles in Ruth's success.
Artie McGovern: The Trainer Who Transformed "The Babe"
The turning point came in the spring of 1925, following Ruth's infamous "Bellyache Heard 'Round the World." This mysterious ailment, possibly a combination of influenza, indigestion, and a sexually transmitted disease, landed him in the hospital. At 30 years old, Ruth's hard-living lifestyle threatened to derail his career.
In a pivotal decision, Ruth hired Artie McGovern, a former boxer and gym owner, as his personal trainer. McGovern implemented a comprehensive program that included running, boxing, handball, sprints, medicine ball throws, and jumping rope. The primary focus was on strengthening Ruth's core.
The results were undeniable. Ruth entered the 1926 and 1927 seasons in peak condition. In 1926, he played 152 games, batted .371 with 47 home runs and 146 RBIs. The following year, he appeared in 151 games, amassing 192 hits, 158 runs, 164 RBIs, and a .356 average with a then-record 60 home runs.
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A Period of Dominance: 1926-1932
Ruth's collaboration with McGovern ushered in a period of sustained dominance. From 1926 to 1932, at ages 31 to 37, he averaged .353 with 49 home runs and 152 RBIs - numbers unheard of for players in their twilight years. While he still indulged in drinking and overeating, he moderated his habits enough to maintain a high level of performance. His second wife, Claire Hodgson, also played a role in curbing his excessive appetites.
Beyond Natural Talent: Ruth's Physical Gifts
Researchers at Columbia University studied Ruth and discovered he had faster-than-average eyes and ears and above-average brainpower.
The Babe Ruth Diet: A Look at His Unconventional Eating Habits
Babe Ruth's eating habits were as legendary as his baseball skills. In an era where nutrition science was in its infancy, Ruth's diet was largely driven by his enormous appetite and personal preferences. While specific details are scarce, anecdotes and reports paint a picture of a diet far removed from modern athletic nutrition plans.
A Glimpse into a Typical Day
While precise details are hard to come by, here's a general idea of what Ruth might have consumed in a day:
- Breakfast: A very large breakfast.
- Mid-Morning Snack: 2 Hot Dogs and 2 Coca-Colas
- Lunch: 2 Raw Steaks, 2 Orders of Potatoes, and 1 Lettuce Head with Roquefort Dressing
- Mid-Day Snack: 2 Hot Dogs and 2 Coca-Colas
- Dinner: 2 Porterhouse Steaks (raw), 2 Cottage Fried Potatoes, 2 Lettuce Heads with Roquefort Dressing, and 2 Orders of Apple Pie
- After Dinner Snack: Chocolate Ice Cream and Pickled Eels
Key Components of Ruth's Diet
- Large Appetite: Ruth was known for consuming vast quantities of food.
- Hot Dogs and Soda: Stories abound of Ruth consuming hot dogs and soda, particularly before games.
- Steak and Potatoes: Like many athletes of his time, Ruth's diet included significant amounts of protein-rich foods like steak and potatoes.
- Alcohol: Ruth's fondness for alcoholic beverages was well-documented.
The "Bellyache Heard 'Round the World": A Turning Point
The infamous "Bellyache Heard 'Round the World" in 1925 was initially attributed to excessive consumption of hot dogs and soda. However, the reality was likely more complex, possibly involving influenza and other factors. This health scare served as a wake-up call for Ruth, prompting him to take his fitness more seriously.
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The 1925 Season: A Disaster
Before the 1925 season, Yankees manager Miller Huggins proclaimed that year's roster was the strongest team he'd ever managed. The 1925 Yankees would not be the strongest team Miller Huggins ever managed because Babe Ruth missing the first two months of the season certainly did not help.
Downsides of the Babe Ruth Diet
Babe Ruth's diet was known for indulgence and abundance, which can lead to various problems, including nutrient imbalance, weight gain, calorie problems, increased risk of cancer, kidney damage, heart disease, calcium loss, constipation, and diarrhea.
- Nutrient Imbalance: Focusing on limited types of food increases the risk of nutrient deficiencies, as our body needs various nutrients from varying sources.
- Calorie Problems: The big portions and calorie-dense foods in Babe Ruth's diet could lead to weight gain, which can cause various diseases, including inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, etc.
- Increased Risk of Cancer: Different studies show that consuming high-protein foods, especially red meat, in excess can increase the risk of cancer. Consuming too much red and/ or processed meat can also lead to colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers.
- Kidney Damage: Babe Ruth’s diet, with its excessive focus on protein intake, can cause kidney problems in individuals with preexisting kidney issues. The issues are raised due to the excess nitrogen content in the amino acids that form proteins. Damaged kidneys have difficulties excreting the extra nitrogen and waste products of protein metabolism.
- Heart Disease: A 2020 study indicates that consuming high levels of protein can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases by activating macrophage mTOR to suppress mitophagy.
- Calcium Loss: High-protein and high-meat diets may lead to calcium loss, which is linked to osteoporosis and poor bone health.
- Constipation: A 2021 study on the relationship between dietary factors and constipation found that high-calorie, high-protein foods can cause more constipation than grains, lipid-rich foods, total fats, and starch.
- Diarrhea: A 2023 study on the effects of high[protein diets on intestines found that high-protein diets could change the structure of lactase-producing bacteria in the intestinal contents, leading to increased lactase-producing bacteria while reducing the richness of lactase-producing bacteria, which can cause and increase diarrhea.
Lessons from the Babe: Finding What Works for You
While Babe Ruth's diet and exercise regimen might seem antiquated by today's standards, the key takeaway is his willingness to adapt and find what worked for him. He wasn't as fit or as disciplined as some of the current stars of the game, especially at the end of his career, but he wasn't an out-of-shape slob who got by on talent alone.
The lesson is to find a plan that works for you and stick with it. Tweak it from year to year, as most successful players do. Don't throw out what works in favor of what’s new and popular. It’s your career, don’t take it for granted. Find a plan that works for you and work the plan.
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