Product Details

• Actors: Jack Perkins, Peter Graves, Harry Smith, Dave Hoffman, Bill Mumy
• Writers: Agnes Nixon
• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: December 23, 1996
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303501117
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,285 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

He is perhaps the greatest sports hero in American history, a man whose nicknames, "the Sultan of Swat" and "The Babe" evoke the combination of power and innocence that made him so unique. Babe Ruth was more than a ballplayer he was a public figure whose popularity transcended that of any game. Profane and earthy, he had a simplicity and warmth of spirit that were electrifying. But his greatness resides on the baseball diamond, where he set a roster of records capped by his 60-home run season. Here is the Babe's story, from his youth in Baltimore and his early career as a Red Sox pitcher to his years of glory in Yankee Pinstripes, and beyond. Take a revealing look at the immortal slugger who swatted his way into America's heart.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Number 3, RUTH, June 5, 2009

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biography - Babe Ruth [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A&E's BIOGRAPHY episode on Babe Ruth is a vintage b&w TV documentary entitled "That Ever Livin' Babe." It's hosted by Pat O'Brien, who also reminisces about George Herman Ruth. Host for this edition of BIOGRAPHY is Peter Graves.

Included are rare photos and film clips of young Babe in his Boston Red Sox uniform. We see him participate in a WWI bond drive. The hard-hitting pitcher is converted to full-time outfielder to better utilize his heavy bat, and in his last year with Boston the Babe hits 29 HRs, breaking an all-time record.

Sold to Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert for what is essentially a cash loan to finance a stageshow, Ruth smashes 56 homers in '20 and also hits the first round-tripper in brand new Yankee Stadium (the House that Ruth Built) in the spring of 1923. 1927 is his most productive slugging season, with 60 HRs-- a mark that stands for 34 years.

Ruth's friendship and rivalry with the younger Lou Gehrig is explored. Many of his career highlights (like the called shot in the '32 WS) get mention. Babe's thwarted desire to become a manager and his two NL coaching jobs (Brooklyn and Boston) round out a brilliant baeball career. He's elected in the very first Hall of Fame class, second only to Ty Cobb in overall statistics.

Complaints of headaches in the early '40s leads to diagnosis of inoperable throat cancer. Ruth is never told he's a dying man, but he knew the score. This life story ends at the scene of his greatest triumphs, Yankee Stadium for Babe Ruth Day. Barely able to talk, the prematurely aged and frail Ruth gives an emotional speech about the game he loves. Within weeks, he's dead at age 53.


The BIOGRAPHY episode "Babe Ruth" is available on DVD.

Related BIOGRAPHY program:
JOE DIMAGGIO: THE WAY IT WAS tells of the man who replaced Bambino as Yankee superstar outfielder. "Joltin' Joe" set a record in 1941 that may never be broken, by hitting safely in 56 consecutive games. (VHS only)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Babe Rules!!, April 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Biography - Babe Ruth [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Baseball legend Babe Ruth rules in this A&E biography.Babe,we all love and miss you!!