The Babe Ruth Photo Album

Greetings ~

George Herman "Babe" Ruth was one of eight children. His father, George Herman Ruth Sr., was a bartender who owned his own saloon for several years. George Sr. died in a fight with members of his second wife's family at his own bar. He was 46 years old.

At the age of seven, Babe was given up to the St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys as he was too rowdy for his parents to handle. At the school, Babe played baseball and created a real love for the game. His mother, Catherine (Schamberger) Ruth died in 1912 at the age of 39.

Babe had two daughters. Julia (Ruth) Stevens was his adopted daughter. She was born on July 7, 1916 to Babe's wife and her first husband, Frank Bishop Hodgson. He had ran away from his family early on and when Babe married Julia's mother, Claire, he adopted the girl. She would always consider Babe as her father and their relationship was very good.

Babe's actual daughter, Dorothy Helen Ruth, was born on June 7, 1921. She always thought that she was the daughter of Babe and his first wife. However, she learned late in her life that her mother was actually Juanita Rose Ellias, who she knew as a family friend. Babe had had an affair with the woman but helped raise the girl.

Babe Ruth died at the age of 53 on August 16, 1948 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He had suffered for some time with throat cancer and surgery and radiation treatments did not help. Ruth was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at Hawthorne, New York.

Babe Ruth's Family ~

George Herman Babe Ruth Jr.

Born > February 6, 1895

Oigtown, Baltimore, Maryland.

Died > August 16, 1948, (Age-53)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.

Burial > Gate of Heaven Cemetery

Hawthorne, New York.

Wife

Claire (Merritt) Ruth

Born > September 11, 1900

Athens, Georgia.

Died > October 25, 1976, (Age-76)

Manhattan, New York.

Burial > Gate of Heaven Cemetery

Hawthorne, New York.

Father

George Herman Ruth Sr.

Born > January 30, 1872

Died > August 25, 1918. (Age-46)

Mother

Catherine (Schamberger) Ruth

Born > July 12, 1873

Baltimore, Maryland.

Died > August 12, 1912. (Age-39)

Baltimore, Maryland.

Burial > Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery

Baltimore, Maryland.

Daughter

Julia (Ruth) Stevens. (Adopted)

Born > July 7, 1916

Athens, Georgia

Died > March 9, 2019. (Age 102)

Henderson, Navada

Burial > Conway Village Cemetery

Conway, New Hampshire.

(Biological Father > Frank Bishop Hodgson).

Daughter

Dorothy Helen (Ruth) Pirone. (Biological)

Born > June 7, 1921

Manhattan, New York.

Died > May 18, 1989. (Age-67)

Durham, Connecticut.

Burial > Ferncliff Cemetery

Hartsdle, New York.

(Biological Mother > Juanita Rose Ellias).

Babe Ruth's pet alligator trophy mount

Babe Ruth's pet alligator trophy mount c.1920-30s. Diminutive alligator mount which, according to family history was Babe Ruth's personal pet during spring training. Alligator was given to Ruth at Crescent Lake, Florida as a joke because he played with the alligators in right field. It was on a leash when the Bambino took it into dugout causing the rest of the team to go running out as the gator was snapping at them. Babe's attachment to the reptilian pet was so great that he elected to bring it back to New York with him once the season started during which the alligator then passed away. Subsequently it was mounted and retained within Babe's personal collection. Alligator measures 33" in length with a portion of the tail end missing and some tape reinforcement on the reverse of the tail. Also missing several end portions of the feet. Unusual and certainly unique Babe Ruth personal artifact perfectly reflecting the larger than life persona of the Babe. Includes letter of provenance from the Ruth family.