Julia Ruth Stevens is amazed how the American public still celebrates the life of her father: George Herman “Babe” Ruth.
The iconic Hall of Fame outfielder would have turned 113 on Wednesday, and the Babe Ruth Museum will have a weeklong birthday party in honor of the Baltimore native who hit 714 home runs, mostly with the New York Yankees.
“I think daddy?s just one of a kind,” said Ruth Stevens, 90, from her Arizona home. “It?s just wonderful that 60 years after he died people are so interested in learning about and remembering him. My family does the best they can to keep daddy?s name out there.”
The celebration of Ruth?s life began Wednesday with a birthday toast and cake-cutting ceremony, where the museum announced it?s funding an effort to provide a headstone at the unmarked grave of Ruth?s mother, Catherine.
Local attorney Paul Harris spearheaded the project to honor Catherine Ruth, who died at 38 in 1912 from tuberculosis. She is buried next to her parents at Holy Redeemer Cemetery on Bel Air Road.
Michael Gibbons, the museum?s executive director, said Baltimore has just has much right to claim Babe Ruth as its own as New York, where he became one of the greatest players in baseball history.
“Babe Ruth is the greatest baseball player of all time and it?s special to know that Baltimore was his home,” Gibbons said. “Ruth was born at the perfect time ? right before spring training. As fans look forward to the upcoming season, we can also celebrate baseball?s past.”
Ruth?s birthday celebration concludes Friday with “Babe?s Birthday Bash” at the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards. The event will include appearances by former Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Colts and will mark the opening of the exhibit, “Framing the Game: The Art of Our Sports.” The exhibit will feature more than 30 items, profiling a variety of sports figures and highlighting several local artists.
The museum will honor Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts with the Babe Ruth Museum Community Service Award for his efforts in raising more than $300,000 for the University of Maryland Hospital for Children.
“Baltimore does a great job honoring daddy,” Ruth Stevens said. “He?s bigger today than he ever was when he was living.”
BABE?S BIRTHDAY BASH
>>What: A celebration of Babe Ruth?s 113th birthday
>>When: Friday, 5-9 p.m.
>>Where: Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards
>>Includes: Food and beverage, parking, a silent auction of sports memorabilia, a tour of Geppi?s Entertainment Museum and a chance to meet former and current Baltimore sports figures.
>>Cost: $40 for Babe Ruth Museum members; $45 for the general public in advance; $50 at the door; $40 each when buying 10 or more tickets.
>>Information: Contact Rachel Childress at (410) 727-1539, ext. 3013 or [email protected]
