He responded by breaking the MLB single-season home run record in 1919. 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 the live-ball era of baseball, in which it evolved from a low-scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor. In his final years, Ruth made many public appearances, especially in support of American efforts in World War II.
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