Since words do not adequately capture the comparative majesty of Babe Ruth, it is best to resort to numbers.

          In this, his greatest of seasons, The Babe hit 60 home runs. The previous best had been 59...by Ruth. The third best had been 54...by Ruth. The fourth best had been 47...by Ruth. The fifth best had been 46...by Ruth. No other player had hit more than 42.

          Ruth's slugging percentage that year was .772. Slugging percentage doesn't have the popular recognition of batting average or home runs, but insiders consider it important because it measures run-producing power. Ruth's 1927 slugging average still ranks as the third-highest of all time...behind Ruth's .847 in 1920 and Ruth's .846 in 1921. In fact, of the 10 highest single season slugging percentages ever recorded, Ruth owns six.

          It speaks to the greatness of the 1927 Yankees that Ruth had 164 RBIs and did not even lead his team: Lou Gehrig had 175. Nor, at .356, did he lead in batting; Gehrig hit .373. Because of his walks, Ruth was held to 192 hits; Earl Combs had 231.

          Yes, the Yankees were a superb team. But they also had the transcendent player of all time.

ELSEWHERE IN BASEBALL

Ban Johnson retires as president of the American League.

IN THE WORLD

Charles Lindbergh flies from New York to Paris May 21, the first non-stop trans-Atlantic solo flight.