Will Babe Ruth Go the Way of John L. Sullivan?

A good piece today on how many home runs George Herman Ruth would hit if he played at the new Yankees Stadium made me wonder where the Babe's legacy will lie in the future. The article Ian O'Connor wrote states that Ruth was "the first living-large mega star of American sport". I think boxing historians, and perhaps horse racing enthusiasts who would point to Man O' War, would cringe at that statement considering the popularity of famed boxer John L. Sullivan, whose legendary exploits still befuddle the mind today.

Sullivan, like Ruth, was a hard drinker who was far and away the best at his sport during his era. As legend has it, the fights of his day were held near pubs and he would often get drunk before disposing of his next victim in the ring. The New York Times said this about Sullivan in his obituary:

Everywhere that Sullivan went he was hailed as a hero. Everywhere his train stopped there were great throngs to cheer him. Men fought with each other to reach him and shake his hand.

There is little doubt how loved Sullivan was in his era. Today, he is virtually forgotten except by those people who are sports historians.

And no, I am not arguing against the historical significance of the great Bambino. As a matter of fact, I am one of his biggest fans. I laughed in agreement with the Babe's daughter that her father would hit 100 home runs in the new Yankee Stadium. With the watered down pitching of this era, he could have probably hit 100 out in the house that he built himself during these past few years. The 100 his daughter gave to the reporter who wrote the story may actually be on the lowside after watching the Indians and Yankees play home run derby last weekend.

The reason I think the Babe's significance to the sport will be diminished, and it pains me to say this as a closet Yankees fan (although my #1 rooting interest is solidly behind the Tribe), is that baseball looks to be dying sport. The national pastime is becoming more irrelevant to today's younger generation and the game's greatest cathedral has no link to man in pinstripes who so many adored.

Boxing, which used to be the top sport in country, has lost a legendary name to the masses and it's silly to think it couldn't happen to baseball too.