Babe Ruth, 1927
George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. is remembered as one of the legends of the game. With a 22-season career, the New York Yankees’ star outfielder began his long career as a wondrous left-handed pitcher. But funnily enough, he actually made his debut with the Boston Red Sox. Pictured here is a rare photo of Ruth with the Red Sox during one of their practices. No one knew at the time what kind of career Ruth would go on to have.
With 714 career home runs, 2,062 bases on balls, and a slugging percentage of .690, there are some stats that even the modern-day greats can’t contest. Regarded as one of the greatest sportsmen in all of American history, Ruth is also considered the best player of all time. He remained a part of American culture and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The First Female NASCAR Driver
Think about being a professional NASCAR driver at a time when women were expected to just stay-at-home moms. For Sara Christian, this was not an option. She spent ages working hard to become the world’s first female NASCAR driver. In 1949, she was the first female NASCAR driver who competed in six out of eight events during her first and only full year.
Christian received the United States Drivers Association Woman Driver of the Year award. By 1949, she drove her Ford at the Charlotte Speedway and finished in 13th place. She raced for two years, starting in 1949 and ending her racing career in 1950. Later in 2004, Sara Christian was inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.
Float Like A Butterfly... Sting Like Ali!
Talk about the right place at the right time; this image has to be one of sporting history’s finest moments! Neil Leifer, a photographer for "Sports Illustrated" at the time, was THE man to capture the moment Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston. This image has gone to be plastered over walls, caps, t-shirts, and any other printable memorabilia. As far as sporting images go, this one really does take the championship belt.
It was a story that would make David and Goliath seem like a children’s fable when the 23-year-old Muhammad Ali took on the 34-year-old “Big Bear." In 1964, Ali and Liston had a rematch, and despite a controversial ending, it went for a record 2:12 into the first round. In the iconic shot above, photographer Leifer is recorded to have said, “I was obviously in the right seat…but what matters is I didn’t miss.”
Andre, The Giant
Andre the Giant was a wrestling legend with legions of fans all over the world. He stood a staggering 7ft 4in tall and weighed over 500 lbs. He used his size and skills to fight three or four opponents and defeat some WWE heavy hitters, including big-name stars like Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy. He was also well known for Fezzik, the good-hearted giant, in the iconic film “The Princess Bride,” which earned him plenty of new fans.
Andre the Giant suffered from a condition in which his body had an excess of human growth hormone, and this is the reason for his enhanced proportions and deep voice. Sadly, he passed away from heart failure in 1993 when he was only 46 years old.
Hall of Famer, Kenny “Snake” Stabler: Oakland Raiders Quarterback (1970-1979), Alongside Coach John Madden
Photographed below is legendary Hall-of-Famer Kenny “Snake” Stabler, pictured alongside his coach, John Madden. Before joining the NFL as the quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, Stabler played football for the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. Though no one is 100% sure how exactly this famous footballer player got his nickname, Stabler always says that it originated from a comment made by his high school football coach Denzil Hollis, who said, “Damn, that boy runs like a snake,” as he watched Stabler weave in and out on the football field.
Stabler is most known for bringing the Raiders a Super Bowl XI victory in 1976. Throughout the ‘70s, Stabler’s career blossomed. In 1974, he was named NFL’s Most Valuable Player, and was even selected to hold the honorable title as a quarterback on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team! Though Stabler passed away in July of 2015, his legacy continues to live on in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an honor which the late football player earned posthumously in 2016, just a year after his death.