Babe Ruth’s MLB career spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. He played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves during that period.
Ruth entered the majors with Boston in 1914, initially establishing himself as an outstanding left-handed pitcher. After being sold to the Yankees before the 1920 season, he became baseball’s most famous power hitter and helped transform the sport’s offensive era.
His Yankees career included the celebrated 1927 season, when he hit 60 home runs—a major-league record at the time. Ruth finished his playing career with the Boston Braves in 1935 and retired after that season.
The 22-season figure counts the seasons in which he appeared in MLB, not merely his years as a Yankee or his years as a full-time outfielder. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 as one of its first five members.