Childhood and Education Journey of Babe Ruth in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Babe Ruth. A timeline of key moments.

George Herman "Babe" Ruth, an iconic American baseball player, played 22 MLB seasons (1914-1935). Initially a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, he gained legendary status as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Known as "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat," Ruth is celebrated as a sports hero and arguably the greatest baseball player ever. He was among the first five elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

June 13, 1902: Entry to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys

On June 13, 1902, Babe Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory and orphanage, due to being deemed "incorrigible" because his father had given him little supervision.

1904: Ruth Cleveland Death

Ruth Cleveland, the daughter of president Grover Cleveland, died in 1904.

1912: Renovation of St. Mary's

In 1912, the boys at St. Mary's Industrial School, including Babe Ruth, renovated the facility as part of their work duties. They did most of the work around the facility.

October 17, 1914: Married Helen Woodford

On October 17, 1914, Babe Ruth married Helen Woodford in Ellicott City, Maryland. They had met in Boston, where Helen worked as a waitress.

1915: Pinstripes Origin

In 1915, the Yankees had been wearing pinstripes.

September 1917: Conscription Introduced

In September 1917, conscription was introduced in the United States, impacting baseball as many players were of draft age.

1918: Flu Pandemic

The country had been hit hard by the 1918 flu pandemic and longed for something to help put these traumas behind it, thus Babe Ruth's rising to fame was a good thing.

1921: Adopted Daughter, Dorothy

In 1921, Babe Ruth and his wife Helen adopted a daughter, Dorothy.

1923: Efforts to Stay in Shape

In 1923, Babe Ruth was described as "toothpicks attached to a piano" due to his physique. However, he maintained efforts to stay in shape.

1923: Ruppert buys out Huston

In 1923, Ruppert bought out Huston.

1923: 25th Anniversary

On June 13, 1948, there was a 25th-anniversary celebration of "The House that Ruth Built", remembering 1923.

1924: Continued Fitness Efforts

In 1924, Babe Ruth continued his efforts to stay in shape.

1925: Separation from Helen Woodford

Around 1925, Babe Ruth and his wife, Helen Woodford, separated. This was reportedly because of Ruth's repeated infidelities and neglect.

1925: Offseason Workout and Team Rebuilding

During the offseason of 1925-26, Babe Ruth worked out at Artie McGovern's gym to get back into shape. Meanwhile, Barrow and Huggins rebuilt the Yankees team, adding young players like Tony Lazzeri and Lou Gehrig.

1925: Illness and Collapse

In early 1925, Babe Ruth weighed nearly 260 pounds (120 kg) despite visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, for exercise. He became ill and relapsed during spring training, collapsing in Asheville, North Carolina. He was briefly hospitalized in New York after being found unconscious in his hotel bathroom. The cause was rumored to be overindulgence in hot dogs and soda pop.

1926: Last Public Appearance as a Couple

In 1926, Babe Ruth and his wife, Helen Woodford, made their last public appearance as a couple. This was during the 1926 World Series.

1926: Cadillac Gift to Brother Matthias

In 1926, Babe Ruth donated $5,000 to buy Brother Matthias a Cadillac and subsequently replaced it when it was destroyed in an accident, showing his generosity to St. Mary's.

1926: Promise to Johnny Sylvester and High Income

In 1926, Babe Ruth promised Johnny Sylvester, a hospitalized boy, that he would hit a home run for him. After the Series, Ruth visited Sylvester in the hospital. Also in 1926, Ruth's salary was $52,000, and he earned at least twice as much in other income, including $100,000 from vaudeville.

1928: Ruth Campaigns for Al Smith

In 1928, Babe Ruth, a self-described Democrat, campaigned for Al Smith, who was the Democratic nominee for U.S. President.

April 17, 1929: Married Claire Merritt Hodgson

On April 17, 1929, Babe Ruth married Claire Merritt Hodgson, an actress and model, and adopted her daughter Julia.

1929: Uniform Numbers and Pinstripes

In 1929, the Yankees began wearing uniform numbers to help fans identify players in Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth, batting third, was given number 3. The Yankees had been wearing pinstripes since 1915, dispelling the legend they were adopted to make Ruth look slimmer.

1929: Yankees' Season and Huggins' Death

In 1929, the Yankees started well but were surpassed by the Athletics. Late in the year, manager Huggins died of erysipelas, a bacterial skin infection, on September 25. The Yankees finished second, 18 games behind the Athletics. Ruth hit .345 with 46 home runs and 154 RBIs.

January 7, 1930: Salary Negotiations Breakdown

On January 7, 1930, salary negotiations between Babe Ruth and the Yankees broke down. Ruth rejected the Yankees' offer and demanded $85,000 for three years. A compromise was reached two months later, with Ruth settling for $80,000 per year.

June 1933: Played golf with Lyn Lary

In June 1933, Babe Ruth played golf with his teammate Lyn Lary at Rye Golf Club. Ruth had the best score with birdies on 3 holes.

1934: Circled the world and tried cricket

During the 1934 offseason, Babe Ruth traveled around the world with his wife, including a barnstorming tour of the Far East. In the United Kingdom, he was introduced to cricket, but lost interest due to the low pay.

July 4, 1939: Spoke on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day

On July 4, 1939, Babe Ruth spoke at Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium, honoring Gehrig, who was retiring due to ALS.

1944: Death of Judge Landis

In 1944, Judge Landis passed away. Happy Chandler would later succeed him as commissioner.

November 1946: Ruth Diagnosed with Cancer

In November 1946, Babe Ruth was admitted to French Hospital in New York for tests that revealed he had an inoperable malignant tumor at the base of his skull and in his neck, identified as nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

1946: Diagnosis of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

In 1946, Babe Ruth was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, which led to his death two years later.

April 27, 1947: Babe Ruth Day

On April 27, 1947, Commissioner Happy Chandler declared Babe Ruth Day throughout Major League Baseball, with a significant observance at Yankee Stadium. Ruth, battling cancer and having lost considerable weight, addressed the crowd with a soft, raspy voice during the event.

1947: Decline and Autobiography

By late 1947, Ruth's health declined, hindering his ability to help write his autobiography, "The Babe Ruth Story", which was largely ghostwritten.

1947: Ruth's Cancer Treatment and Improvement

In 1947, Babe Ruth received experimental chemotherapy treatment with pterolyl triglutamate (Teropterin) for his cancer, showing dramatic improvement during the summer. He traveled to promote American Legion Baseball for the Ford Motor Company, and was honored at Yankee Stadium in September, though he was too ill to pitch in an old-timers game.

February 1948: Ruth's Final Activities

In February 1948, Babe Ruth left Manhattan for Florida to continue activities as he was able. He later returned to New York for a book-signing party and traveled to California to see the filming of the movie based on his autobiography.

June 5, 1948: Ruth Visits Yale and Donates Manuscript

On June 5, 1948, a frail Babe Ruth visited Yale University to donate a manuscript of "The Babe Ruth Story" to the library. He met with George H. W. Bush, who was the captain of the Yale baseball team at the time.

June 13, 1948: Ruth's Last Visit to Yankee Stadium

On June 13, 1948, Babe Ruth made his final visit to Yankee Stadium for the 25th-anniversary celebration of "The House that Ruth Built". Using a bat as a cane due to his failing health, he was photographed by Nat Fein, a photo that later won the Pulitzer Prize.

July 26, 1948: Ruth Attends The Babe Ruth Story Premiere

On July 26, 1948, Babe Ruth left the hospital to attend the premiere of the film "The Babe Ruth Story." Shortly afterward, he returned to the hospital for the final time, his condition worsening and limiting visitors.

1980: Dorothy learns about her biological mother

In 1980, Juanita Jennings confessed that she was Dorothy's biological mother.

1999: Granddaughter and daughter discuss Ruth's depression

In 1999, Babe Ruth's granddaughter, Linda Tosetti, and his daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, mentioned that Babe's inability to secure a managerial role with the Yankees caused him to feel severe hurt and depression.

1999: Devens' Interview

In 1999, Charlie Devens, who, in 1999, was interviewed as Ruth's surviving teammate in that game, did not think so.

1999: Julia Ruth Stevens' Recount

In 1999, Julia Ruth Stevens provided an account explaining that George Ruth Sr. was a saloon owner and had given Ruth little supervision, leading to him becoming a delinquent.