Babe Ruth is undoubtedly one of the most famous baseball players in history. With an impressive record at both pitching and batting, Babe Ruth takes the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none” and flips it on its head. Ruth was, in fact, the jack of all trades and master of all. No matter what position he was in, he excelled at. 

However, despite his exploits on the baseball field, his reputation was mired for the partying and womanizing he did off the field. Despite the controversy, Babe Ruth lived and interesting and accomplished life.

Here are 10 facts about the famous baseball player!

1. His birthday was in dispute. 

Babe Ruth always believed his birthday was February 7, 1895, but historians now agree it was February 6. 

2. Ruth started partying at a young age. 

Ruth had a troubled childhood. Because of this, his knack for partying started early. Before he was eeven eight years olf, Ruth had already chewed tobacco and drank whiskey for the first time.

3. The origin of his nickname “Babe” is still unknown. 

Babe Ruth earned his nickname while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. No one knows precisely when or how he got the nickname. However, it stuck for good by the time he left the team.  

4. Babe Ruth debuted as a pitcher before he was a batter. 

Ruth started his professional baseball career as a pitcher. He pitched in 127 games before he began batting. 

5. Known for batting, Babe Ruth is still one of the best left-handed pitchers of the time. 

Despite his fame as a batter, Babe Ruth was also one of the best left-handed pitchers in early baseball. He had the lowest ERA of 2.19 and the highest winning average of .659 among left-handed pitchers. 

6.The Red Sox have never been the same without him. 

Ruth was the Red Sox’s most valuable player. During the six seasons he played with them, the Red Sox won three World Series titles. However, they have only won four in the 107 seasons since then. 

7. His career almost ended over a pitching dispute. 

Ruth almost quit the Red Sox when the manager refused to let him bat. After threatening legal action against him, Ruth returned to the team as a pitcher. 

8. Ruth went just as hard off the field. 

Due to his tendency to party, some of his teammates remarked: “I don’t room with Ruth; I room with his suitcase.” This was due to his being out at all hours of the night partying. 

9. Babe Ruth hit one of the longest-ever home run on record. 

While playing in Detroit, he hit one of the longest-ever home run on July 18, 1921. It is estimated the ball traveled around 575 feet. Ruth also holds the record for the top three longest home runs. 

10. His record for most home runs in a single season is still undefeated. 

During the 1927 season, Ruth set the single-season home run record – 60 home runs. That record has never been beaten but was tied in 1961. 

The Legacy of Babe Ruth in Baseball and Beyond 

Even though Ruth’s reputation off the field may have cost him opportunities later in life, he is undoubtedly a fantastic player. His ability to set records in any position he played has made him legendary in professional baseball. His resilience and skill on the field without the enhancement of steroids or other drugs make him truly remarkable in the sport. 

The post 10 Facts About Babe Ruth’s Career first appeared on History In Memes.

Without a doubt, the Allies had help from many people, countries, and even animals during World War Two. However, a Syrian brown bear named Wojtek was one of the most unexpected allies. Serving in the Free Polish Army from 1942 to 1945, Wojtek was known for his power, strength, and almost human-like personality. 

But, his service to the Allied cause goes far beyond his cute and cuddly face. Wojtek actually saw combat in one of the fiercest battles of the Italian campaign. 

Polish Soldiers in Iran rescued Wojtek 

In the spring of 1942, the Allies knew the war would last a long time. Because of this, they needed to raise as many armies as possible. One of the ways the Allies thought to do this was to raise new units from prisoners and refugees who had fled conquered countries. Poland was the perfect candidate for this proposal. 

Because the Soviet Union was a German ally before being invaded by German forces, Soviet authorities had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians stashed away in gulags. With the new agreement inked in 1941, Soviet authorities granted pardons to any Polish man or woman who joined the new army. Known as Ander’s army, after its commanding officer, the unit shipped out in March 1942 to serve in the British army. 

While en route through Iran, 18-year-old Irena Bokiewicz encountered a brown bear cub at a rail station. She convinced her great uncle, to adopt the bear. The Iranian boy selling it said poachers had killed its mother. Taking pity on the bear, the niece convinced an army Lieutenant to buy the bear and that she would take care of it herself. The officer agreed.

Over the next three months, Wojtek, which is short for happy warrior, grew stronger and bigger. Soon, he was the official mascot of the Second Polish Army Corps.

Wojtek Served in Combat in Italy

Before leaving Iran, General Anders had to figure out how to get Wojtek onto a British transport ship. Army regulations forbid mascots or animals from embarking. General Anders enlisted Wojtek as a private in the army to get around this rule. Wojtek was now a soldier with an actual pay account and identity card. 

With the problem of transporting Wojtek out of the way, the next issue was how to employ him. Polish officers agreed that he could be used to haul heavy artillery shells. So, they put him in the 22^nd Artillery Supply Company. After his new assignment, the Polish Second Army Corps arrived in Italy, enduring almost three years of constant combat. 

The deadliest battle the Poles fought in was the Battle for Monte Cassino. Overlooking a strategic height of the infamous Gothic Line, taking the centuries-old monastery was vital to cracking German defenses in Italy. During the months-long battle, the Poles were engaged in heavy fighting, including the 22^nd Artillery Supply Company.

With casualties high, Polish leadership even threw support units into infantry roles. With a shortage of manpower, the company’s commander started using Wojtek to carry artillery shells to the guns. Wojtek is said to have done such a good job carrying crates of ammunition that he was promoted to corporal! 

Though Wojtek handling shells like a human is disputed, at least one British observer claimed he saw him do it. But, regardless of how true the story is or not, Wojtek was a great morale booster for the unit. Here’s some other habits he was known to do:

• Drink beer and coffee
• Smoke (and eat) cigarettes
• Sleep with other soldiers if they were cold in the night
• Salute when greeted

Wojtek’s Legacy

Wojtek was a morale boost during a time when there wasn’t much to smile about. His happy-go-lucky personality made him a hit with soldiers who had endured so much already. After serving in Italy for three years, he was brought to the UK. he was brought along with his unit, where it was disbanded. However, like many Polish soldiers serving the Commonwealth, Wojtek stayed in the UK. 

Wojtek took up residence at the Edinburgh Zoo, where visitors would even throw cigarettes into his enclosure sometimes. He enjoyed his celebrity status until 1961, when he passed away.

The post Wojtek: The Bear Who Fought in WWII first appeared on History In Memes.

Our scars, both physical and not, show the pain we’ve endured, but alsoo what we’ve survived. And, that is definitely the case for Albina Mali-Hodevar.

Albina Mali-Hodevar has become known for her scars. She was a Yugoslavian resistance fighter who made many sacrifices during her time of service. Unfortunately, not many people know her name or story. 

So, let’s dive into the history behind the woman in the picture, to uncover her truth. Here are four questions about Albina Mali – answered!

1. Who Is The Woman In The Photo?

The girl in the photo is named Albina Mali-Hodevar. She was a resistance fighter in Slovenia in 1941 after Germany invaded Yugoslavia during World War II. While World War II is flooded with endless tragic wartime stories, Albina’s story and service to Yugoslavia has gone unnoticed for a long time.

She was born on September 12, 1925, and was one of eight children. At the age of 16, Albina joined the People’s Liberation Movement, which was a part of the People’s Liberation War of Yugoslavia. She was initially designated to be a nurse, but ended up being involved with action on the battlefield.

2. How Did Albina Mali Get Those Scars?

She was wounded a few times during the war. More specifically, she was wounded twice by the age of 17. After her 18th birthday, she was tragically wounded again by exploding mines. During her time of service (1942-1943), she had sustained multiple injuries, including the injury seen in the photograph, which caused a disfigurement of her face and the loss of her eye.

3. What Was Her Role In The War?

Her efforts of assisting continued long after she was no longer on the battlefield. She had transitioned from soldier to nurse, going above and beyond to assist the wounded. Even though she wanted to be a soldier and actively fighting against invaders rather than a nurse, she did not take her new role and responsibilities lightly. Her dedication to her duties and her patients did not go unnoticed by those around her.

Multiple people who were around Albina during her time of service, recall her work on the battlefield as a nurse:

“The nurse Albina always paid more attention to the wounded than to herself”

“She knew neither fear nor exhaustion while… there were wounded [partisans] to be taken care of.”

4. What Happened To Albina Mali After The War?

Due to her dedication, courage, and bravery during particularly hazardous and dangerous situations, the country of Yugoslavia awarded Albina the Yugoslavian Order of the Partisan Star, 3rd class. She then went on to have a prominent role in the government before passing away on January 24, 2001 at age 76.

Albina gave her life and even her eye for freedom. Even though a lot of people have seen this photo, tragically most people don’t know about the incredibly powerful and brave woman behind this photo. There is still a lot unknown about Albina’s life and not many photos of her beyond this one, but what we do know is that she was incredibly courageous and driven to help free her country from invaders and oppression. Her legacy goes beyond this picture. And this photo is a symbol of what horrors and tragedies war puts the men and women serving through, but also what real-life heroes look like.

Watch this video to learn more about Albina Mali-Hodevar’s story!

The post How This Yugoslavian Resistance Soldier Lost Her Eye first appeared on History In Memes.