Download Babe the Kid The Legendary Story of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester eBook Charlie Poekel Julia Ruth Stevens

Product details File Size 8479 KB Print Length 154 pages Publisher The History Press (October 19, 2007) Publication Date January 23, 2019 Sold by  Digital Services LLC Language English ASIN B00XQK6SRU

Babe the Kid The Legendary Story of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester eBook Charlie Poekel Julia Ruth Stevens Reviews

• Anything involving Babe Ruth is part fact and part legend. Johnny Sylvester is part of the legend who went on to success and his storyis largely unknown.
• I wanted this book as I am related to Johnny Sylvester and never knew the whole story The price was unbeatable.
• I'm not sure if this is a self-published book, but it has that feel to it. The writing is flat, and there's a ton of detail that just isn't interesting. It's more of a family memoir than a book for general interest.
  
  That being said, however, it is a complete account of a well-known baseball incident that has been turned into myth. This book does a good job of unraveling the layers of myth and setting the moment in its proper context. Plus, it has tons of great pictures.
  
  Remarkably, the basic outline of the myth is true. Babe Ruth, the greatest baseball player ever, really did sign a baseball for a dying young boy on which he wrote that he'd hit a home run for the boy in the World Series. And then Ruth hit three homers in that game -- a stunning feat in any game, not to mention a high-stakes World Series in which he'd made that promise. Though the promise wasn't known at the time, it was publicized immediately after. And when the boy recovered from a disease that was fatal for many people, the story was cemented in history. That the boy lived into his late 80s, went to Princeton and served for 3 years in WWII, had a prosperous career and was able to visit The Babe when he was dying (to young) makes it even more remarkable.
  
  Sweet stuff.
• I'm not a big baseball fan. I can admit that. I love history though, and like nearly every other American I'm a sucker for pop culture. Most of us tend to think of celebrity in terms of what Paris Hilton wore last week, but this story reminded me of a time when doing something nice instead of something stupid was what got lots of publicity.
  
  Babe & the Kid tells the story of Babe Ruth and his enduring friendship with a young boy during and after the 1926 World Series. The kid, Johnny Sylvester, was seriously ill when a kind gesture by the most popular pro ballplayer of his day literally made the difference between life and death. What I found most interesting was the fact that their friendship endured for years afterwards, a testament to Ruth's character. His visit and gift weren't a publicity stunt staged for the camera, but the genuine actions of a true hero.
  
  Poekel has done a fine job of researching the facts related to an iconic story in American sports. Especially welcome were the numerous photographs and memorabilia he was given access to through the collection of John Sylvester, Jr., who maintains the scrapbook his father kept of his extraordinary friendship with some of the leading athletes of his day. The book is well-written, an easy and accessible read, and thoroughly enjoyable.
• I have heard this story many times in movies and books - but this is the accurate full-telling of well-researched facts. Very interesting and educational. A must for any Yankee or Ruth fan.