Overview
- Crow‑Armstrong repeated a tongue‑in‑cheek theory on Kristin Cavallari’s Let’s Be Honest podcast that Babe Ruth never existed and suggested period pitchers may have effectively thrown underhand.
- The clip went viral and prompted a heated on‑air rebuke from ESPN personality Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo, who defended Ruth’s historic numbers and called the remark derogatory.
- Reporters countered the claim by noting that much 1920s film was shot on unstable nitrate stock and that many silent‑era reels were lost while written box scores, newspaper accounts and photos extensively document Ruth’s career.
- Crow‑Armstrong has described the comment as playful skepticism about how extraordinary Ruth’s stats are, and outlets say the episode has not materially affected his breakout 2026 season or MVP discussion.
- The exchange highlights how a casual off‑field remark by a high‑profile athlete can trigger rapid online amplification, prompt fact‑checking about how archives work, and rekindle long‑running debates over comparing players across eras.