The Big Bambino Trivia Quiz

Answer: Baltimore, Maryland

Babe Ruth was born George Herman Ruth, Jr. on Feb. 6, 1895, at his grandparents' house at 216 Emory Street in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were George Herman Ruth and Kate Schamberger Ruth. The house where Babe Ruth was born is now the site of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum which opened to the public on July 20, 1974.

Answer: His parents died in a house fire when he was a baby.

His parents put in long hours tending tavern, and Babe's mother was often ill. This meant that Babe was pretty much left to raise himself on the Baltimore streets. On June 13, 1907, when Babe Ruth was seven years old, his father placed him in St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a Catholic orphanage and reformatory, ran by the Xaverian Brothers. Babe rarely saw his family.

His parents never came to the school, and he was only allowed to return home once a year for a visit. At St. Mary's, Babe received an education, worked in the school's shirtmaking shop, and played baseball.

The Ruth's had eight children but only two survived infancy, Babe and his sister, Mamie.

Answer: True

While Babe Ruth was playing baseball at St. Mary's, he came to the attention of Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the International League team, the Baltimore Orioles, and Dunn offered Babe a contract. The Xaverian Brothers signed custody of 19-year old Babe Ruth over to Jack Dunn, making him Babe's legal guardian.

At training camp the other players called him "Jack's new babe" and the nickname stuck. Babe only played six months with the Orioles before he signed with the Boston Red Sox.

Answer: True

Babe Ruth began playing for the Boston Red Sox on July 14, 1914. In 1918, in Boston's Fenway Park, Babe broke Christy Mathewson's World Series record when he pitched twenty-nine consecutive scoreless endings against the Chicago Cubs. His pitching record for five and a half seasons with the Red Sox was 89-48. During the off-season of 1919, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth's contract to the New York Yankees.

Answer: 2

In October of 1914, Babe Ruth married Helen Woodford. By 1925, the couple had separated but remained married because of their religious beliefs. Helen Ruth died in a house fire in 1929, and Babe married Claire Hodgson on April 1, 1929.

Answer: Yankee Stadium

From 1913 to 1922, the Yankees played their home games in the Polo Grounds sharing the stadium with the New York Giants. On April 18, 1923, an estimated 74,000 fans turned out for the opening of Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium was called "The House That Ruth Built" because Babe Ruth's popularity generated so much money in ticket sales.

Answer: True

Babe's famous quote (when told his contract was bigger than the President's): "What the hell has Hoover got to do with it? Besides, I had a better year than he did."

Answer: Ironhorse

"Ironhorse" was the nickname of Babe's New York Yankee teammate, Lou Gehrig. Some of Babe Ruth's other nicknames are: Bambino, Big Bambino, Great Bambino, Rajah of Rap, and Wazir of Wham.

Answer: "It is easier to stay out than get out."

It was American writer and humorist Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) who said, "It is easier to stay out than get out."

Answer: Murderers Row

The 1927 New York Yankees were called Murderers Row because this was a "murderous" lineup to face. In the regular 1927 season, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig had a combined total of 107 homeruns and 339 RBIs (runs batted in). Babe Ruth set a major league record with 60 homeruns, and Lou Gehrig set a major league record with 175 RBI's. Both Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri exceeded 100 RBI's. Meusel drove in 103 runs and Lazzeri drove in 102.

The Yankee Lineup on Opening Day 1927 was: Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Dugan, Pat Collins, and Waite Hoyt.

Answer: 40

Babe Ruth left the New York Yankees at the end of the 1934 season and signed with the Boston Braves as a player and assistant manager. Babe actually thought he would be given a chance to manage the team, but the Braves had hired him as a draw to sell tickets. On May 25, 1935, the old magic was with the Babe, and he hit three homeruns for the Braves against the Pirates.

These were the last homeruns Babe Ruth ever hit, and he retired as a professional player the following week. He was 40 years old.

Answer: 714 home runs

Babe Ruth's 714 lifetime homerun record stood for almost 30 years. Babe Ruth's record was finally broken when Hank Aaron hit his 715th homerun on April 8, 1974.

Answer: 1974

"Hammerin' Hank" Aaron broke Babe's record on April 8, 1974. To compare the lifetime stats of these greats of baseball: Ruth had 714 home runs, 2,873 hits, 2,209 runs batted in, 2,056 walks, and a .342 batting average out of 8,399 times at bat in 2,503 games. Hank Aaron had 755 home runs, 3,771 hits, 2,297 runs batted in, 1,402 walks, and a .305 batting average out of 12,364 times at bat in 3,298 games. Babe Ruth's home run record is even more remarkable when we consider that Hank Aaron had over 2,500 more times at bat when he broke it.

These stats on Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron can be found at "The Baseball Legends Series" at: www.jnes.com.

Answer: 53 years old

Babe Ruth was 53 years old when he died of throat cancer on Aug. 16, 1948. An estimated 100,000 people came to pay their respects as his body lay in state at the entrance of Yankee Stadium on Aug. 17th and 18th. Why was Babe Ruth so popular with his fans? It's because he lived big and played big.

When Babe hit a homer, it was spectacular! He made and broke records--people came to see what Babe would do next. He was also generous with both his time and money. He visited hospitals and orphanages, and in 1947, he set-up the Babe Ruth Foundation to help needy boys with both scholarships and sports.

Answer: He was named Athlete of the Century by the Associated Press.

Babe Ruth was one of the first five inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. The other four were: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Honus Wagner. April 27, 1947, was celebrated as Babe Ruth Day in ball parks all over the United States, parts of Latin American, and even in Japan. Babe Ruth spoke that day in front of an estimated 60,000 people at Yankee Stadium.

In 1947, he set up and endowed the Babe Ruth Foundation. The Associated Press named Babe Ruth Athlete of the Century in 1999. Thank you for taking my quiz on the life and times of the legendary Babe Ruth.