BORN FEBRURAY 6, 1895: BABE RUTH

The Babe Bows Out, Yankee Stadium, June 13, 1948 © 2004 Nat Fein Estate

 
George Herman Ruth Jr. was born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland to parents George Sr. and Kate. George Jr. was one of eight children, although only he and his sister Mamie survived. George Jr.’s parents worked long hours, leaving little time to watch over him and his sister. The lack of parental guidance allowed George Jr. to become a bit unruly, often skipping school and causing trouble in the neighborhood. When George Jr. turned 7 years old, his parents realized he needed a stricter environment and therefore sent him to the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a school run by Catholic monks from an order of the Xaverian Brothers. St. Mary’s provided a strict and regimented environment that helped shape George Jr.’s future. Not only did George Jr. learn vocational skills, but he developed a passion and love for the game of baseball.
 
 

Ralph Morse: Babe Ruth in uniform at Yankee Stadium, 1948

Irving Haberman: Babe Ruth signing autographs for adoring fans, New York

Ralph Morse: Baseball great Babe Ruth, in uniform, addressing crowd and press during final appearance at Yankee Stadium (shortly before death). This rare color image of Babe Ruth leaning on his bat for his final appearance at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948

Read more from  BabeRuth.com, the official website of Babe Ruth.

HAPPY WORLD SERIES

The World series starts tonight, and over the decades the baseball championship has produced many memorable and iconic sports photographs.

Nat Fein: The Babe Bows Out

I Like to Watch, the Blog of Writer and Editor David Schonauer, has a terrific post about how some of those photographs are made, and how one in particular was "lost" for years.

"Tonight is the opening game of the 2010 World Series, and in honor of that I thought we would take a look at what many people consider to be the greatest baseball picture ever taken, Nat Fein's photo of Babe Ruth biding farewell to fans at Yankee Stadium. the house that he built." Read the full post here.

Ralph Morse: Babe Ruth's Farewell

Related: 50 years Ago Jackie Robinson Steals Home