Final answer:
Babe Ruth substantially impacted professional baseball by transforming it into a hitter's game with his record-setting performances, particularly his 60 home runs in 1927. He was a driving force in popularizing sports figures through radio broadcasts and played a pivotal role in promoting inclusivity in the game by playing alongside athletes of different races, despite prevalent segregation in professional sports during his time.
Step-by-step explanation:
One effect of Babe Ruth's great skills in playing professional baseball was the increase in popularity and clout of sports figures and their accomplishments. Ruth's record-breaking feats, such as hitting 60 home runs in a single season, captivated Americans and made him a legendary figure in baseball. He changed the game from a low-scoring one dominated by pitchers to one where his hitting became famous, and pitchers frequently chose to intentionally walk him. Ruth's success helped popularize baseball and contributed to the rise of sports heroes in the 1920s.
Another effect of Ruth's skills was the discovery of great Latino ballplayers through international tours. Many white and black players from the Major Leagues and Negro Leagues played in countries like Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and various Caribbean and Latin American countries. This led to the recognition and inclusion of talented Latino ballplayers on international touring teams and Negro League teams. These ballplayers became role models, ambassadors, and some of the first activists against segregation as they traveled through the nation.
Ruth's skills also had an impact on the perception of black baseball greats, such as Josh Gibson. Some scholars of the Negro Leagues argue that Ruth should be called the 'white Josh Gibson' due to Gibson's impressive career statistics. Gibson played among the greatest ballplayers of all races, but was excluded from the Major Leagues due to race. Ruth's presence in the sport brought attention to the talent and achievements of African American players like Gibson, highlighting the injustice of their exclusion from the higher leagues.