Babe Ruth was active in baseball over twenty years.
George Herman `` Babe '' Ruth Jr. ( February 6 , 1895 -- August 16 , 1948 ) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) spanned 22 seasons , from 1914 through 1935 . With regular playing time , he broke the MLB single-season home run record in 1919 . In his 15 years with New York , Ruth helped the Yankees win seven American League ( AL ) championships and four World Series championships .