In February 2025, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s arrival in St. Pete.
1925: BABE RUTH ARRIVES IN ST. PETE
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| (colorized) Second from the left is Al Lang, the president of the Jungle Country Club. It was Lang who persuaded the Yankees to train in St. Pete. Having Babe Ruth and the Yankees in town every spring boosted tourism. Lang looked forward to the publicity of having Babe Ruth on the Jungle golf course. |
"It wasn't that he hit more home runs than anybody else, he hit them better, higher, farther, with more theatrical timing and a more flamboyant flourish. Nobody could strike out like Babe Ruth. Nobody circled the bases with the same pigeon-toed, mincing majesty." – Red Smith
Babe Ruth signed baseballs now sell in the ballpark of $10,000.
"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way" – Babe Ruth
In his first major league at bat, Babe Ruth struck out.
Ruth pitched 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the World Series, a record that he held from 1918-1961.
“The loudest boos always come from the cheapest seats.” ― Babe Ruth
The bat that Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium in 1923 sold at auction for $1,265,000 in 2004.
The practice of signing autographs wasn't common in the major leagues prior to Ruth’s arrival.
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| 32nd Birthday at the Jungle Country Club New York Daily News, Feb 11, 1926 |
Babe Ruth was present at the opening of the Jungle Hotel on February 10, 1926. The building still stands and is now Admiral Farragut Academy.
"It was impossible to watch him at bat without experiencing an emotion. I have seen hundreds of ballplayers at the plate, and none of them managed to convey the message of impending doom to a pitcher that Babe Ruth did with the cock of his head, the position of his legs and the little gentle waving of the bat, feathered in his two big paws." ― Paul Gallico
Babe Ruth's daughter Dorothy recalls that her father could drink highballs, smoke cigars, and chew tobacco at the same time.
Babe Ruth batted left-handed, threw left-handed, but signed baseballs right-handed.
Ruth was famous for his concern for children's welfare, often visiting orphanages and hospitals. He didn’t do it for publicity. Sports journalist Bill Slocum said: "For every picture you see of the Babe in a hospital, he visits fifty without publicity."
He drove a golf ball 360 yards on the 388-yard fourth hole on the Jungle golf course in St. Petersburg.
“I have only one superstition. I touch all the bases when I hit a home run." ― Babe Ruth
"It was at St. Mary's that I met and learned to love the greatest man I've ever known. His name was Brother Matthias. He was the father I needed. He taught me to read and write — and he taught me the difference between right and wrong." ― Babe Ruth
A Babe Ruth 1914 rookie card fetched $7.2 million in 2023.
In 1925, during the train ride back to New York after the Yankees’ first spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Ruth became seriously ill and was hospitalized for six weeks. A sportswriter wrote that the illness was due to Babe’s diet of hot dogs and soda and the incident came to be known as “the bellyache heard ‘round the world.” He missed much of the season, and the Yankees finished in next to last place.
11-year-old Johnny Sylvester fell off a horse and was hospitalized prior to the 1926 World Series. A friend of his father gave Johnny some baseballs that were autographed by Babe Ruth and Johnny was told that Babe Ruth would hit a home run for him. Ruth hit four home runs in the series and he later visited Johnny in the hospital. Miraculously, Sylvester recovered from his serious injury.
Babe Ruth’s popularity helped baseball recover from the Black Sox gambling scandal.
Babe Ruth enjoyed deep-sea fishing near St. Pete Beach.
Ruth endorsed many products, including books, toys, smoking tobacco, candy, cereal, chewing gum and underwear.
In the span of three years, Babe Ruth won the American League triple crown as a pitcher (wins, ERA, strikeouts) and as a hitter (batting average, HR, RBI).
Ruth was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1936 along with Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson.
Babe Ruth threw 9 shutouts in 1916 and was considered the best southpaw in the American League.
Babe Ruth’s on and off the field activities in St. Pete were covered by newspapers worldwide, bringing publicity to the city and boosting the tourism industry.
He celebrated many of his birthdays at the Jungle Hotel (now Admiral Farragut Academy).
During Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. Ruth hit a home run to center field after pointing to the spot where he planned to hit the ball. It is known as “The Called Shot.” There is controversy over what he was gesturing about, but when a story becomes widely believed as truth, even if it's not entirely factual, it should be reported as such.
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| Babe awards the championship trophy to "Number 2" at the St. Petersburg Kennel Club (Derby Lane) greyhound track in 1925. credit (b/w): Derby Lane Greyhound Track Records, MC 00688, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC (colorized) |
He was a frequent patron of Derby Lane greyhound track in St. Petersburg.
In 1930, during a stay at the Jungle Hotel, Babe Ruth wrote a letter on hotel letterhead to the students of Central High School in Philadelphia encouraging them to work hard, live a clean life, save money and honor their parents.
Babe Ruth was the most famous golfer of the Roaring ‘20s. The Jungle Country Club in St. Petersburg became one of the country's most renowned golf courses because of his presence.
In 1917, he threw 35 complete games out of 38 starts.
Babe Ruth had 2,873 hits in his career.
"If you’re going to swing, swing big!” – Babe Ruth
Records at St. Mary’s Industrial School, a reformatory for boys, showed his birthdate was February 7, 1894. It wasn't until he applied for a passport after the 1934 baseball season that he discovered his actual birth date was February 6, 1895 - which made him a year younger than he thought he was - but he continued to recognize February 7, 1894 as his birthday for the rest of his years.
“Babe Ruth is not just a legend now; he was a legend in his own time” — Hall of Fame senior curator Tom Shieber.
He once, according to legend, ate 12 hot dogs and drank eight bottles of soda between games in a double header. After that, he was rushed to the hospital.
"Ruth made a grave mistake when he gave up pitching. Working once a week, he might have lasted a long time and become a great star." — Tris Speaker in 1921 on Babe Ruth's future
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| Babe Ruth (center) with his father, George Herman Ruth Sr, tend bar in Baltimore in 1915. |
His parents were both of German descent, so Babe grew up speaking German in his childhood home. He emphasized his heritage when he signed a declaration that was published in newspapers across the country in 1942 denouncing Hitler.
Babe was fond of drinking a quart mixture of bourbon whiskey and ginger ale at breakfast.
Ruth refused to play in left or right field if the sun was in his eyes. His outfield position was determined by the orientation of the ballpark. He played right field at the Polo Grounds, Yankee Stadium, Cleveland and Washington, but he played left field in the other American League cities.
“There will never be another Babe Ruth. He was the greatest home run hitter who ever lived.” ― Reggie Jackson
In 1925 during spring training at Crescent Lake Park in St. Petersburg, Ruth sprinted off the field and shouted “I ain’t going out there anymore. There’s an alligator!”
Ruth’s first major league hit was a double off of a Yankee pitcher.
He had a powerful uppercut swing, unlike other players of his era who choked up on the bat and just tried to make contact.
Babe Ruth was committed to St. Mary’s Industrial School in 1905 at age 7. After his mother died in 1910, he never had a visitor. He left the school in 1914 to play baseball for the minor league Baltimore Orioles. As a result of his experience at St. Mary's, he developed an empathy for disadvantaged children that he carried with him throughout his life.
Babe appeared in four movies ― Headin’ Home, Speedy, Babe Comes Home and The Pride of the Yankees.
“I learned early to drink beer, wine, whiskey, and I think I was about five when I first chewed tobacco.” ― Babe Ruth
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| Babe Ruth plays in a WWI American Jewish Relief charity game held in Scranton, PA |
Ruth supported social and moral causes, including those of the Jewish community around the world.
Babe Ruth was a lifelong Catholic who regularly attended Mass even after a night of carousing.
Babe Ruth loved hot dogs topped with sauerkraut and mustard.
Ruth’s career slugging percentage of .690 is still the major league record.
Some of Babe Ruth’s nicknames: The Bambino, The Caliph of Clout, Babe, Sultan of Swat, Jidge, The Behemoth of Bust, The Great Bambino, The Big Bam, Maharaja of Mash, the King of Swing.
Ruth was known for being friendly with Black players and performers, despite racial segregation in the United States. He was friends with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, an actor and performer, and often invited him to the Yankees clubhouse. Robinson was an honorary pallbearer at Ruth's funeral in 1948.
On March 2, 1933, Babe Ruth scored a hole-in-one on the Pasadena golf course in St. Petersburg.
Babe Ruth rebelled against racism and injustice. He defied major league executives by playing exhibition games during the off-season with teams in the Negro League. He mingled with black players in the dugout and with fans in the "colored section" in violation of local laws.
Ruth had a hard time remembering teammates’ names, so he just called everybody “kid.”
Ruth loved Dewar’s Scotch whisky. A typical round of golf would start with a few Scotches, then a few more at the halfway point and another at the end of the round.
In 1924, while chasing down a fly ball, Babe Ruth ran head-first into a cement wall and was unconscious for several minutes. After he was revived, he went 3-for-3 and played the second game of the doubleheader.
"This 19-year-old kid, crude, poorly educated, only lightly brushed by the social veneer we call civilization, gradually transformed into the idol of American youth and the symbol of baseball the world over - a man loved by more people and with an intensity of feeling that perhaps has never been equaled before or since." ― Harry Hooper, Boston teammate
"Life is like a baseball game. When you think a fastball is coming, you swing just in case." ― Babe Ruth
“Every strike brings me closer to my next home run.” ― Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth had 123 stolen bases over his career and is also credited with 10 stolen home bases.
Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923. In the third inning, Ruth hit the first home run in the new stadium.
He got his strength by doing manual labor at St. Mary’s Industrial School while growing up.
A 20-cent stamp was issued by the United States Postal Service in 1984 to honor Babe Ruth on the 50th anniversary of the All-Star Game.
Ruth pitched a combined no hitter in 1917 against the Washington Senators. After walking the first batter, Ruth punched the umpire and was ejected from the game. Ernie Shore pitched the rest of the game without giving up a hit.
“The Yankees with Babe Ruth and their stars meant millions to this town.” – St. Petersburg Mayor Al Lang.
Ruth scored a double eagle (2 strokes on a par 5) on the 17th hole of the Jungle golf course. He called it one of his greatest achievements.
“Every ballplayer in the country ought to get down on his knees and thank God for the big fellow. The things he has done have helped every man who plays this game.” ― former teammate Waite Hoyt
The final out of the 1926 World Series was recorded when Babe Ruth was tagged out trying to steal second base.
Babe Ruth’s career batting average was .342.
"The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all." ― Babe Ruth
Definition of “Ruthian” from The Baseball Dictionary: Colossal, dramatic, prodigious, magnificent; with great power. The term derives from the hitting style and lusty demeanor of Babe Ruth. "Ruthian is baseballese for awesome power. Babe Ruth is in the dictionary, but Cobb is just a salad." ― Bruce Lowitt (St. Petersburg Times, April 15, 1999).
"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up" ― Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth played for the Boston Braves in 1935 when he hit his final home run, the 714th of his career. The Braves franchise moved to Milwaukee and later Atlanta where another Braves player, Hank Aaron, broke the record in 1974.
When asked why he should be paid a salary greater than President Hoover, Ruth answered “Why not? I had a better year.”
Babe Ruth’s longest documented home run off major league pitching was over 600-feet at St. Petersburg’s Waterfront Park in 1934.
Babe Ruth marries Claire Merritt Hodgson on April 17, 1929 at St. Gregory's Roman Catholic Church in New York City. (colorized)
On opening day, April 18, 1929, Babe Ruth hit a home run in his first at bat of the season. In the stands was his new wife, Claire, who stood and shouted "whoopee!" They had married on the previous day.
“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, it is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.” ― Babe Ruth
It has been estimated that Babe Ruth signed well over 100,000 baseballs, always as free souvenirs.
When he retired in 1935, he was the career record holder in home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks and strikeouts.
The jersey that Babe Ruth wore during his 'called shot' game in the 1932 World Series sold for $24.12 million in 2024, the most expensive item of sports memorabilia ever sold.
Brother Matthias taught Ruth how to hit and he also taught him how to run pigeon-toed. It was thought that pushing off with all five toes increases speed.
More than 100,000 people paid their final respects and viewed Babe Ruth’s open casket at Yankee Stadium in 1948.
Golf was considered a sport for the wealthy country club set before pictures of Babe Ruth golfing made the sport popular with the masses.
Ruth quickly became one of the most famous people in the country. On Yankees road trips, people with no interest in baseball traveled hundreds of miles to get a glimpse of the Babe. He was cheered wildly in every park — for rival fans, if Ruth smacked one out of the park, it hardly seemed to matter what the final score was. ― Allan Wood
At St. Mary’s Industrial School, Ruth learned how to become a shirtmaker. During his baseball career, he did his own alterations to his uniform.
Babe Ruth was known to party at the Gangplank speakeasy in The Jungle in St. Petersburg.
Ruth's bat was much heavier than modern bats, which typically weigh around 32 ounces. His bat was 36 inches long and at various times during his career weighed between 38 and 44.6 ounces.
The Baby Ruth candy bar was created in 1921, cashing in on the Babe Ruth name without paying any royalties to the star. Ruth sued, but lost the case. The Curtiss Candy Company argued that the bar was named for President Cleveland’s deceased daughter, baby Ruth Cleveland who died in 1904 at age 12.
To keep his head cool, Ruth sometimes wore a piece of cabbage under his hat while in the field.
Ruth had 136 triples in his career, surprising because he wasn’t known for his speed, but ballparks had deep outfields that Ruth could hit the ball to.
Six of Babe Ruth’s siblings died in childhood, only George Herman Jr. and his sister Mamie survived to adulthood.
"Do what you fear and fear disappears." ― Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth sings "Home Run on the Keys" in a Vitaphone short.
Babe Ruth’s final major league hit, with the Boston Braves in 1935, was a home run. In fact, he hit three home runs in that game, the longest estimated at 600 feet. Pirates shortstop Arky Vaughan said “I have never seen three home runs hit harder than the Babe hit them that day, especially the last one. I’m here to tell you it was the longest hit ever made in Pittsburgh. That’s a day I’ll never forget.”
Monumental benchmarks: 60 home runs in a season (1927), 714 career home runs.
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The Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth is hosting centennial events in St. Petersburg February 6-8, 2025. Babe Ruth's grandson and other members of the Ruth family will be here from around the country and the new life-size statue "Babe Ruth Calls His Shot" by St. Pete artist Blake Emory will be unveiled.
2025 is the Centennial Year of Babe Ruth playing baseball in St. Petersburg
Saturday, February 8, is Babe Ruth Day
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Official City Recognition of Babe Ruth’s Contributions to St. Petersburg
City Hall Proclamation Declaring 2025 the Centennial Year of Babe Ruth Playing Baseball in St. Petersburg, and Saturday, February 8, Babe Ruth Day.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 – Babe Ruth Day
✫ 12 noon ✫ Kids and Kubs vs. Mayor Welch’s City Hall Stars, Northshore Field
Babe Ruth's Grandson Tom Stevens to throw out the first pitch and playNew Life-size Statue by Blake Emory Unveiled – “Babe Ruth Calls His Shot"
✫ 5:00 PM ✫ JUNGLE GOLF CART PARADE
FARRAGUT DRIVE, AZALEA ✫ PARTICIPANTS LINE UP AT 4:30featuring the Ruth family and Babe Ruth statue
✫ 6:00 PM ✫ Party at Jungle Prada Sacred Lands Site, near the Gangplank speakeasy
Featuring the Ruth family and Babe Ruth statue
