by Jane Leavy
First published 2018
Jane Leavy takes readers inside Babe Ruth's world through the lens of his legendary 1927 barnstorming tour. After hitting his record 60th home run, Ruth and Lou Gehrig embarked on a three-week victory lap across America that newspapers called the biggest show since Ringling Brothers circus. Leavy uses this tour as her framework to examine the man who became the template for modern celebrity. She reveals how Ruth partnered with business manager Christy Walsh to create the blueprint for athletic stardom. The biography traces Ruth's journey from Baltimore to Boston to New York, exploring his transformation from uncouth to polished, his record-breaking achievements, and his outsized personality. Drawing from over 250 interviews and previously unused documents, Leavy strips away the mythology to show the real person behind the legend. The book captures both the spectacle and the sadness that marked Ruth's career and personal life.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, sports
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: celebrity, rags-to-riches
Setting: America, Baltimore, Boston, New York
Period: 1927
620 pages · Hardcover · Harper