Ruth, Babe, 1895-1948

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George Herman Ruth was born February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland to Katherine and George Herman Ruth Sr. In 1902, Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, an orphanage and reformatory, at the age of seven to teach him discipline. It was here that he learned to play baseball.

He signed a contract with the minor league Baltimore Orioles in 1914. Ruth received his nickname "Babe" when his minor league teammates referred to him as manager Jack Dunn's new babe.

He began his major league career with the Red Sox in 1914, as a pitcher and also played first base and the outfield. By 1915, he was with the Red Sox full time and led them to three World Series titles in 1915, 1916, and 1918.

In 1920, Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees, where he shifted from pitcher to outfielder. It was in New York where Ruth became known for his dominance at the plate and rose to a global stardom that baseball had never seen before. His 15 seasons with the Yankees comprise of four World Series titles in 1923, 1927, 1928, and 1932, and numerous individual accolades.

In 1935, Ruth joined the Boston Braves as a player and assistant manager. This would be his last season as a player and he retired on June 2nd, 1935. He ended his major league career with many records, including a record of 714 home runs that he held until 1974.

Ruth briefly returned to Major League Baseball in 1938 as the Brooklyn Dodgers first base coach, but left after one season.

Ruth's professional ambitions were not limited to Major League Baseball. Around 1914, Ruth took an interest in Hollywood and began appearing in movies; he would continue to act long after his retirement from baseball. Ruth also played in barnstorming and exhibition games during and after his career. He barnstormed with Lou Gehrig for several years, toured with other players in Japan, and played in War Bond Games to raise money during WWII.

Babe Ruth's personal life garnered as much attention as his career. He married Helen Woodford October 17, 1914, in Baltimore Maryland. In 1921, they adopted a baby girl, Dorothy. It was later proven that Dorothy was in fact Ruth's biological child from an affair he had with a woman named Juanita Jennings. Babe and Helen were separated by 1926 and in January 1929, Helen passed away in a house fire.

On April 17, 1929, Ruth married his second wife, Claire Merritt Hodgson. She had a daughter, Julia, from her first marriage who was legally adopted by Ruth on October 30, 1930. Dorothy was also legally adopted by Claire on this date.

Ruth was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame's first class in 1936 with 95.13% of the vote.

In 1946, Ruth's health started to fail and he was diagnosed with cancer, though he was never told that specific detail. He died on August 16, 1948 at the age of 53.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
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referencedIn All American Star-Team Japan tour photograph album : photograph album, 1934. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
creatorOf Ruth, Babe, 1895-1948. Letter, 1948, June 14. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Production Library Audio Recordings. 1999 - 2005. BABE RUTH DAY National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Ruth, Babe, 1895-1948. The Babe Ruth story : typescript / by Babe Ruth as told to Bob Considine, [1948?]. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
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referencedIn Whiting, Indiana: Generational Memory, 1991-1993 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Papers, 1890-1996 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
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creatorOf Ruth, Babe. 1895 - 1948. Papers Related to Babe Ruth : papers 1921-1968. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Selected scenes of past and present sport personalities National Archives at College Park
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creatorOf Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 1921 - 2008. Audio Recordings. 1945 - 1965. The greatest moments in sports National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Breslow, Lou. Papers, 1914-1967. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [AUG. 21] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 3] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Season of 1931 : scrapbook, 1930-1943 1931. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Pigg family. Pigg family photograph collection, 1920's - 1950's [graphic]. Alaska State Library
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [APR. 24] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Production Library Audio Recordings. 1999 - 2005. SPECIAL EVENTS - OPENING OF BABE RUTH STORY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Lane, John J. Collection of articles by John J. Lane : manuscript, typescript, [1932-1974?] / John J. Lane. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Treasury. 1775 - 2005. General Records Relating to Bond Sales Promotion. 1944 - 1959. Photograph of Sports Celebrities Gathered for Bond Drive National Archives at New York
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Coast Guard. 1785 - 2005. Moving Images Relating to Coast Guard Activities. 1967 - 1992. STORY OF A TRANSPORT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Campbell, Daisy M. 1890 - unknown. Pittsburgh Pirates Fan Scrapbook : scrapbook, 1946 - 1968. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JUNE 19] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hank Aaron Scrapbook : scrapbook, 1973-1974. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Dalleo, Peter T. Baltimore, the "Babe," and the Bethlehem Steel League, 1918 : typescript, 1996, June / by Peter T. Dalleo and J. Vincent Watchorn, III. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Coast Guard. 1785 - 2005. Moving Images Relating to Coast Guard Activities. 1967 - 1992. STORY OF A TRANSPORT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Partin, Clyde. Clyde Partin papers, 1940-2009. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [APR. 16] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Gehrig, Eleanor. Lou Gehrig Scrapbooks : scrapbooks, 1920-1942. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Waite Hoyt 1899 - 1984. Waite Hoyt Scrapbook : scrapbook, 1916 - 1959. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Newcomer, E. D., 1896-1973. Newcomer portraits, M-Z, 1926-1970 (bulk 1950-1969). Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Treasury. 1775 - 2005. General Records Relating to Bond Sales Promotion National Archives at New York
referencedIn Hank Aaron 1934 - . Hank Aaron Scrapbooks : scrapbooks, 1958 - 1974. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn National Broadcasting Company, Inc., Collection. 1953 - 1962. Motion Picture Films. 1953 - 1962. THE JAZZ AGE National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Bush, Kenneth B. Kenneth B. Bush photograph collection. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [DEC. 29] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 8] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Eisenstat, Harry, 1915-2003. Harry Eisenstat papers, 1933-2003. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Smelser, Marshall. Papers 1864-1968. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "Movietone News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1942. MOVIETONE NEWS [AUG. 25] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Lidinsky Jr., Richard A. donor. Baltimore Orioles Scrapbooks : scrapbook, 1958 - 1962. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Baseball photographs, [ca.1890-1960] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. Movietone News, Vol. 44. No. 83 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Health Products Corporation. Majors' all-stars meet in 'game of the century' / newspaper, 1933, July 6. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Production Library Audio Recordings. 1999 - 2005. BABE RUTH AND BILL SLATER National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sweeney, Francis J. compiler. Francis J. Sweeney Scrapbooks : scrapbooks, 1924 - 1930. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Gardner, R. L. The Waysiders : typescript, [2000] : Henry Ford's best kept secret : Wayside Inn Boys School Sudbury, Massachusetts / by R.L. Gardner. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn [Player file : Ruth, George Herman, 1914- / compiled by the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, N.Y.]. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Sill, Jesse G., 1881-1981. [Oregon newsclips] [motion picture] Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn HOF Correspondence Collection : letters. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Transfer agreement, 1919, December 26. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Records of District Courts of the United States. 1685 - 2009. Equity Cases. 1926 - 1937. Hillerich and Bradsby Co. vs Hanna Manufacturing Co.. 1933 - 1933. quot;The All-Stars All Swingquot; Advertisement for Louisville Slugger Bats National Archives at Atlanta
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Herbert Brownell Jr. Additional Papers. 1897 - 1996. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Dodd (Jimmie A. ) Photograph Collection, 83-176; 2011-152., 1937-1966. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn E. R. Williams family photographs collection [graphic], circa 1910-1930. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn David Goldin Collection. 1932 - 1952. Audio Recordings of Radio Broadcasts of Speeches, Interviews, Combat Reports, Special Events, Public Affairs, and Entertainment for U.S. Troops. 1932 - 1952. QUAIL AND PHEASANT HUNT AT FORKED RIVER, N.J National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS. [DEC. 17] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn David Goldin Collection. 1932 - 1952. Audio Recordings of Radio Broadcasts of Speeches, Interviews, Combat Reports, Special Events, Public Affairs, and Entertainment for U.S. Troops. 1932 - 1952. BABE RUTH National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAR 4] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 1921 - 2008. Audio Recordings. 1945 - 1965. The greatest moments in sports National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers (Atlanta, Ga.). Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers photographic collection. Portraits, 1925-1974 (bulk 1939-1971). Georgia State University
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [APR. 23) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Letter, 1996, Septemeber 27. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn American big league stars, program, 1934, December 9-10. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Funeral card, [1948]. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [AUG. 25] National Archives at College Park
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, Lee, 1915-1969. person
associatedWith American League corporateBody
associatedWith American League (Baseball) corporateBody
associatedWith American Newspaper Boys War Stamp Sales Campaign. corporateBody
associatedWith Anne Murray Morgan, 1925- person
associatedWith Babe Ruth Day Apr. 27, 1947. corporateBody
associatedWith Babe Ruth Foundation. corporateBody
memberOf Boston Braves (Baseball team) corporateBody
memberOf Boston Red Sox (Baseball team) corporateBody
associatedWith Breslow, Lou. person
associatedWith Brooklyn Daily Eagle. corporateBody
associatedWith Brooklyn Eagle. corporateBody
associatedWith Bush, Kenneth B. person
associatedWith Campbell, Daisy M. 1890 - unknown. person
associatedWith Considine, Bob, 1906-1975. person
associatedWith Creamer, Robert, 1922 - person
associatedWith Dalleo, Peter T. person
associatedWith Desko, George. person
associatedWith Dodd, Jimmie A. person
associatedWith Dodd, Jimmie A., 1917-1984. person
associatedWith Eisenstat, Harry, 1915-2003. person
associatedWith Gardner, R. L. person
associatedWith Gehrig, Eleanor. person
associatedWith Hank Aaron 1934 - . person
associatedWith Harridge, William. 1883 - 1971. person
associatedWith Harris, Mervyn S. person
associatedWith Hofstra University. corporateBody
associatedWith Hoyt, Waite, 1899-1984. person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith Jenkins Jr., Burris, 1897 - 1966. person
associatedWith Johnson, Ban. 1864 - 1931. person
associatedWith Landis, Kenesaw Mountain. 1866 - 1944. person
associatedWith Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers (Atlanta, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lane, John J. person
associatedWith Levin, Sylvan, 1903-1996. person
associatedWith Lidinsky Jr., Richard A. donor. person
associatedWith Lindenhurst Historical Society (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Mack, Gene 1890-1953. person
associatedWith Malone, Philip R. person
associatedWith Meusel, Bob. 1896 - 1977. person
associatedWith Newcomer, E. D., 1896-1973. person
associatedWith New York Evening Telegram. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Journal. corporateBody
memberOf New York Yankees (Baseball team) corporateBody
associatedWith Partin, Clyde. person
associatedWith Piercy, Bill. 1896 - 1951. person
associatedWith Pigg family. family
associatedWith Smelser, Marshall. person
associatedWith Sweeney, Francis J. compiler. person
associatedWith Turtledove, Harry. person
associatedWith Waite Hoyt 1899 - 1984. person
associatedWith Walsh, Christy, 1871-1955. person
associatedWith Weiss, George M., person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Baltimore MD US
New York NY US
Subject
Baseball
Baseball
Baseball Player
Baseball players
Occupation
Baseball players
Activity

Person

Birth 1895-02-06

Death 1948-08-16

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6kn01rx

SNAC ID: 83280176