Babe Ruth Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy. The trade fueled Boston's subsequent 86 year championship drought and popularized the "Curse of the Bambino" superstition. In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth helped the team win seven American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships. His big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only drew fans to the ballpark and boosted the sport's popularity but also helped usher in baseball's live-ball era, which evolved from a low-scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor.
The Babe Ruth Story crediting Babe Ruth for America's love of the sport. When the first choice for the lead role Jack Carson would not be released from Warner Bros., the producers chose Bendix. It was rushed to release after news of Ruth's declining health, and makes no mention whatsoever of Ruth's first wife, Helen. The film was released three weeks before Babe Ruth died. Some contemporary reviews were positive, with Bendix drawing accolades from a number of critics for his performance. "Variety" called the film "interesting, if semi-fictional," writing that it combined "warmth, tears and chuckles into a film that will sustain audience