Contents

Part One

1894-1919

1. Legend and Truth: Babe Ruth Lives

2. The Bad Kid: Baltimore at the Turn of the Century

3. Early Exile: Niggerlips in St. Mary's

4. The Star of the School: Enter Jack Dunn

5. First Spring Training: Home Run in Fayetteville

6. The Young Professional: Winning with the Orioles

7. Arrival in Boston: Meeting Helen

8. Retreat to the Minors: Pennant in Providence

9. The Major Leaguer: Pennant in Boston

10. The Lefthanded Genius: Best Pitcher in Baseball

11. Emergence of Temperament: How to Punch an Umpire

12. The Beginnings of the Hitter: Switching to the Outfield

13. The Impact of War: Baseball in World War I

14. The 1918 World Series: The Abortive Strike

15. The Big Fight: Ruth vs. Barrow

16. The First Home Run Record: Magic 29

17. Departure from Boston: Sold down the River

Part Two
1920-1948

18. Revolution in Baseball: Ruth Reaches New York

19. The Amazing Season: Nothing Like It Ever Before

20. Encore: Topping the Amazing Season

21. The Second Big Fight: Ruth vs. Landis

22. The Fall of the Hero: Ruth in Disgrace

23. The jinx and the Baby: The Weird Season Ends

24. The First Reformation: How to Bat -393

25. The Disaster: The Bellyache Heard Round the World

26. The Third Big Fight: Ruth vs. Huggins

27. The Real Reformation: The Superb Seasons

28. Kaleidoscope: Personality of the Babe

29. Death of Helen: Marriage to Claire

30. The $80,000 Salary: A Better Year than Hoover

31. The Magnificent Moment: The Called-Shot Home Run

32. Decline: It's Hell to Be Old

33. Farewell to New York: Back to Boston

34. The Last Act: Opera Bouffe with the Braves

35. Retirement: The Call That Never Came

36. The End: Joe, I'm Gone

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INDEX