The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is located just a few blocks from Oriole Park in Baltimore.
From the ball park, fans follow a trail of baseballs in the sidewalks to the Ruth home.
When we arrived, we weren't sure which door to go in, though a small sign did point us to the right way.
The first exhibit in the museum we watched was a documentary about how the Star-Spangled Banner became the standard opening for baseball games.
The room includes a (reduced size) replica of the Fort McHenry flag that inspired the songwriter and a general overview of the Babe's career.
Ruth started out his baseball career as a member of the then-minor league Baltimore Orioles. That team had financial woes and Ruth's contract was sold to the Boston Red Sox. Ruth became a star there. Ruth was again sold to the New York Yankees where he played from 1920 to 1934. He had one last year with the Boston Braves in 1935. He briefly worked as a first base coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1930s. Replica jerseys from each team adorn the wall.
The museum has a small display of other famous Baltimore athletes. Cal Ripken, Jr.'s Baltimore Orioles jersey and MVP trophy, Ray Lewis's Baltimore Ravens jersey, Johnny Unitas's Baltimore Colts cleats, and Michael Phelps' swim cap and goggles fill a small niche. The crown in the lower right is a Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat award for Tony Armas's slugging ability--he hit 251 home runs in his career.
Another display shows a replica of the World Series trophy. Ruth went with the Red Sox to two successful World Series appearances (1915 and 1916). With the Yankees, he went to five more winning series (1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932).
A nearby wall lists all of the Babe's home runs in chronological order. It is a very full wall!
The museum has the original Ruth home, 216 Emory Street, with recreations of what the house looked like.
The upstairs also has a small display on Ruth as a family man, along with a dress from his wife and the family's radio.
Ruths parents were George and Katherine, both of whom were children of German immigrants. George Senior had a series of jobs. He eventually bought a saloon and lived in the apartment above. George Junior was a bit of a troublemaker and wound up at age seven being sent to St. Mary's Industrial School For Boys, a Catholic reform school. His parents were Protestant though Babe became a Catholic, carrying a set of rosary beads with him throughout his life.
A lot of displays chronicle his baseball achievements, especially the famous "called shot" at game three of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. It's unclear from the films of the game, but the story goes that Babe pointed out where he would hit a home run right before he actually hit the home run!
Several of Ruth's bats are also on display. He went through many different types to find just what he wanted.
A signed baseball is also on display.
We loved visiting the museum and recommend it to all baseball fans.
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| The house where Ruth lived (along with neighboring houses) |
From the ball park, fans follow a trail of baseballs in the sidewalks to the Ruth home.
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| Easy to follow |
When we arrived, we weren't sure which door to go in, though a small sign did point us to the right way.
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| My son reconnoitering |
The first exhibit in the museum we watched was a documentary about how the Star-Spangled Banner became the standard opening for baseball games.
The room includes a (reduced size) replica of the Fort McHenry flag that inspired the songwriter and a general overview of the Babe's career.
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| National flag circa 1814 with Babe Ruth history |
Ruth started out his baseball career as a member of the then-minor league Baltimore Orioles. That team had financial woes and Ruth's contract was sold to the Boston Red Sox. Ruth became a star there. Ruth was again sold to the New York Yankees where he played from 1920 to 1934. He had one last year with the Boston Braves in 1935. He briefly worked as a first base coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1930s. Replica jerseys from each team adorn the wall.
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| Jerseys from all his teams |
The museum has a small display of other famous Baltimore athletes. Cal Ripken, Jr.'s Baltimore Orioles jersey and MVP trophy, Ray Lewis's Baltimore Ravens jersey, Johnny Unitas's Baltimore Colts cleats, and Michael Phelps' swim cap and goggles fill a small niche. The crown in the lower right is a Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat award for Tony Armas's slugging ability--he hit 251 home runs in his career.
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| Other locals |
Another display shows a replica of the World Series trophy. Ruth went with the Red Sox to two successful World Series appearances (1915 and 1916). With the Yankees, he went to five more winning series (1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932).
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| A world series trophy |
A nearby wall lists all of the Babe's home runs in chronological order. It is a very full wall!
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| 714 plaques! |
The museum has the original Ruth home, 216 Emory Street, with recreations of what the house looked like.
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| Living room |
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| Bedroom |
The upstairs also has a small display on Ruth as a family man, along with a dress from his wife and the family's radio.
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| Ruth's family |
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| The back of the house, now inside! |
Ruths parents were George and Katherine, both of whom were children of German immigrants. George Senior had a series of jobs. He eventually bought a saloon and lived in the apartment above. George Junior was a bit of a troublemaker and wound up at age seven being sent to St. Mary's Industrial School For Boys, a Catholic reform school. His parents were Protestant though Babe became a Catholic, carrying a set of rosary beads with him throughout his life.
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| Rosary |
A lot of displays chronicle his baseball achievements, especially the famous "called shot" at game three of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. It's unclear from the films of the game, but the story goes that Babe pointed out where he would hit a home run right before he actually hit the home run!
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| Poster from the famous game |
Several of Ruth's bats are also on display. He went through many different types to find just what he wanted.
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| Two bats that Ruth used |
A signed baseball is also on display.
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| Autographed by the man |
We loved visiting the museum and recommend it to all baseball fans.
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