In the history of American baseball, what playing positions did the legendary player Babe Ruth occupy during his professional career?

Introduction / Context:
Sports general knowledge questions often focus on iconic players and their records or roles. Babe Ruth is one of the most famous names in the history of American baseball, widely known for his powerful hitting. However, for exam purposes it is equally important to remember that he played in more than one position during his career. This question checks whether you know that Babe Ruth was not just a hitter or a single position player, but both a pitcher and an out fielder at different stages of his playing life.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about Babe Ruth, a legendary baseball player.
- The options suggest four possibilities: only first base, both pitcher and out fielder, only out fielder, and only pitcher.
- We assume basic awareness that baseball positions include pitcher, out fielder, first base, and others.

Concept / Approach:
Babe Ruth began his Major League career as a left handed pitcher with the Boston Red Sox and was very successful in that role. Later, after moving to the New York Yankees, he was primarily used as an out fielder, especially in right field, so that the team could fully exploit his exceptional batting ability without overusing his pitching arm. Therefore, historically he is correctly described as having played both as a pitcher and as an out fielder, which directly matches one of the options provided.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Babe Ruth is famous for his home run hitting, but that does not by itself tell you his field positions. Step 2: Remember that early in his career with the Boston Red Sox, Babe Ruth served as a star pitcher, helping the team win World Series titles. Step 3: Note that after being traded to the New York Yankees, his primary role shifted to that of an out fielder, allowing him to appear in more games and focus on hitting. Step 4: Read the options carefully and identify “Both pitcher and out fielder” as the one that accurately summarizes his career roles. Step 5: Confirm that he did not play exclusively as first baseman, only as out fielder, or only as pitcher throughout his entire career.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple way to verify this is to recall common descriptions of Babe Ruth in sports history articles. He is often introduced as a former pitcher turned power hitting out fielder. Sports historians describe how his team recognized that his batting talent was too valuable to be limited to days when he pitched, so he was shifted mainly to the outfield. This dual role is a distinctive part of his legend and makes it easy to rule out answer choices that mention only one position.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Only 1st base: Babe Ruth is not primarily associated with first base as his main or sole position; this is not how historical records describe his playing career.
- Only out fielder: While he became a famous out fielder with the Yankees, this option ignores his significant early years as a successful pitcher for the Red Sox, so it is incomplete.
- Only pitcher: This also fails to capture the later and more celebrated part of his career as an out fielder and heavy hitter for the Yankees, so it is inaccurate as a complete description.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students vaguely remember Babe Ruth as a great “slugger” for the Yankees and assume he must always have been an out fielder, thus selecting “Only out fielder”. Others may have read that he started as a pitcher and then mistakenly choose “Only pitcher”. The key to avoiding such errors is to recognize that the question asks about his overall professional career, not one particular season or team. Remembering that Ruth successfully filled both roles is essential for answering this question correctly.

Final Answer:
Babe Ruth played as both pitcher and out fielder during his professional baseball career.