0203 - Shawn Herne
Shawn Herne is the Executive Director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. During our conversation, he referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Shawn Herne, Babe Ruth, and I after recording our interview at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
216 Emory Street
Baltimore, Maryland
Executive Directors
Mike Gibbons (left) and Shawn Herne shake hands as Mike passes the baton after 35 years on to his successor.
B&O Railroad Museum
Originally named the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum when it opened on July 4, 1953, it has been called one of the most significant collections of railroad treasures in the world, and has the largest collection of 19th-century locomotives in the U.S.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
The famous warehouse beyond the right field fence has become nearly as iconic as the stadium itself.
“Orioles Magic” song
B.J. Surhoff
Surhoff played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, and was a member of the Orioles from 1996-2000, where he earned his only All-Star selection in 1999.
Babe Ruth was born in this room in his maternal grandparents’ home in Baltimore.
Babe’s Birth Certificate
Babe was born February 6, 1895.
George Senior’s Saloon
Located at 38 South Eutaw Street in Baltimore, this was actually where George Senior died while attempting to break up a bar brawl.
This photo shows a happier time, with the Babe behind the bar in the center of the frame, and his father in the foreground.
St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys
Babe was sent here when his parents couldn’t handle the responsibility of raising children while working.
Brother Matthias
Brother Matthias was born Martin Leo Boutilier in 1872. He moved to the United States, became an Xaverian priest, and adopted the name Matthias. At 6’ 6” and 250 pounds, he cut an imposing figure as Prefect of Discipline and Assistant Athletic Director.
Throughout his life, Babe Ruth spoke of Brother Mathias in terms of veneration and gratitude. He taught Ruth more important lessons than just baseball.
Brother Gilbert
Philip F. Cairnes became known as Brother Gilbert when he became an Xaverian brother. He is generally credited with steering the Babe to his first professional contract.
The book shown contains the heretofore unpublished memoirs of Brother Gilbert, and has a number of previously unpublished photos from the Xaverian Order.
St. Mary’s Industrial School Baseball Team Photo 1914
Babe is in the center in the top row. Image courtesy of Huggins and Scott Auctions.
Jack Dunn
During his seven-year career as a big league journeyman, Jack Dunn gained a reputation for his versatility in being able to play several different positions in the field, but just as notable was his astute understanding of the game and his knack for developing young players.
SABR Bio by Jimmy Keenan
Babe’s Statue
Standing tall at the entrance of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
March 7, 1914
Babe Ruth begins his career with the Baltimore Orioles by hitting a home run in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Babe in Providence
“Babe Ruth appears to have gotten in on the ground floor with the fans as a result of his baffling southpaw brand of pitching and his ability to give the horse-hide vigorous punishment with the wagon tongue,” wrote the Providence Journal.
Behind Ruth’s efforts, the Providence Grays would go on to beat out Rochester for the 1914 International League title after which Ruth would return to Boston to begin his storied Major League career in earnest.
Boston Red Sox
Babe was a centerpiece on two World Series-winning Boston teams in 1916 and 1918. He threw the longest complete game, 14 innings, in the 1916 series against the former-Brooklyn Robins (now Los Angeles Dodgers).
While pitching for the Red Sox, Babe had a 2.19 ERA, 125 ERA+, 2.76 FIP, and won 89 games.
Helen Woodford
Babe Ruth wed quiet Boston waitress Helen Woodford in a small ceremony at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Ellicott City on October 17, 1914.
Babe’s Parents
Katherine Schamberger and George Herman Ruth Sr., were both of German ancestry. According to the 1880 census, both of Babe’s parents were born in Maryland.
Babe Ruth’s Boys Band
Ruth helped the school raise money after a fire through a tour by the St. Mary’s Industrial School Band.
Johnny Dale Sylvester
Little Johnny Sylvester, hospitalized after being kicked by a horse, got an autographed ball from the Babe in the middle of the 1926 World Series.
The ball’s message, “I’ll knock a homer for you in Wednesday’s game,” became legendary when Ruth kept his word — and hit three home runs that day.
Christy Walsh
Walter “Christy” Walsh is considered to be the first baseball sports agent, having served that role for many of the game’s great players included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, John McGraw, Walter Johnson, and Lou Gehrig.
Babe Ruth Underwear
Ruth would endorse just about anything. Babe Ruth Underwear was endorsed by the Yankees slugger in 1926 to start production in 1927.
Some of the larger boxes also came with a premium 14" baseball bat with the imprint BABE RUTH ATHLETIC UNDERWEAR.
The white undergarment came in different styles. Some came as a two piece, and a button down sleeveless body suit with short leggings.
Claire Ruth
Claire Merritt Hodgson Ruth was born Clara Mae Merritt on September 11, 1897 in Athens, Georgia.
Claire's first husband, Frank Hodgson, died February 16, 1921, leaving her with a daughter, Julia. Claire and Babe met in 1923, and were married from 1929 until Babe’s death in 1948.
Babe With Kids
Babe loved spending time with kids, whether it was signing baseballs for them, playing with them, or just visiting them in the hospital to brighten their spirits.
September 4, 1923
The pastor at Today Ascension of Our Lord in Philadelphia was concerned that neighborhood children didn’t have enough wholesome pastimes, so he had a baseball field built. Despite Ascension’s crowded school and packed Sunday Masses, he couldn’t find the money to repay the construction loan, so he asked Babe to play in a charity baseball game to raise money after the Yankees/Athletics game that day. Babe agreed, and 10,000 people paid to watch.
Genuine Smile
Beside the fact that he was the most transcendent athlete in the history of American sports, Babe was known for being great with his younger fans.
PR Smile
Babe’s PR smile is noticeably different than his genuine smile, which he always had on around children.
The Bellyache Heard ‘Round The World
When Babe arrived in St. Petersburg for spring training in 1925 he was not only overweight, but ill. This wasn’t that unusual — the spring “flu” was an annual thing for Babe. He wound up spending 7 weeks in the hospital.
Dorothy
The mystery behind the 16-month-old Dorothy was never fully resolved. Was she Helen's biological daughter? Was she adopted? Was she Ruth's daughter by another woman? All of these possibilities have been forwarded by reporters and historians over the years.
Helen’s Death
On Jan. 11, 1929, Babe’s wife, Helen, was killed in a house fire in Watertown, Massachusetts. Helen lived in the house with a dentist, Edward H. Kinder. Helen and Babe were separated, but not divorced. Neighbors knew Helen as Mrs. Kinder, and had no idea she was Babe’s wife.
Julia
Julia Ruth Stevens was born in Athens, Ga., on July 7, 1916, to Claire Hodgson, a teenage beauty, and her husband, Frank, who was many years his wife’s senior. They separated when Julia was a baby, and Ms. Hodgson went with her to New York and found work as an illustrator’s model.
Babe and Lou
The original odd couple.
Barnstorming
After their iconic 1927 season, when Babe hit 60 home runs and Gehrig connected for 47, the two went on a nationwide barnstorming tour, captaining teams called the “Bustin’ Babes” and “Larrupin Lous.”
Babe the Pitcher
On June 23, 1917, Babe started a game against Washington. After umpire Brick Owens called the first four pitches balls, Ruth charged Owens and threw a punch that landed. Babe was ejected from the game, and Ernie Shore replaced him. After he took the mound, the previously walked batter was thrown out attempting to steal, then Shore retired the next 26 batters.
Babe and Shoeless Joe
"I copied Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen. The greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter."
- Babe Ruth
Though incomplete, these are Shoeless Joe’s career stats batting against pitcher Babe Ruth.
Babe’s Bats
On display at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, the lower bat was given to Babe by Shoeless Joe when the two exchanged bats in July of 1920 during a series between the White Sox and Yankees in New York.
The top bat was used by Ruth from 1918-1921.
Yankee Stadium
A left-handed hitter’s dream with that short porch in right field, Yankee Stadium was not only The House That Ruth Built, it was just as much the house built for Ruth.
Babe at Shibe Park
A 39-year old Babe Ruth swings for the fences during batting practice at his favorite road ballpark. Shibe Park, Philadelphia, 1934.
In Babe’s 171 career games at Shibe Park: .357/.472/.753, 1.225 OPS, 68 HR, 175 RBI, 164 R, 220 H, 132 BB, 464 TB.
Passaic, New Jersey, 1933
A torrential rain had pummeled Passaic on May 3, 1933. The all-day rain had washed out a dirt embankment that supported the Erie Railroad tracks. Six orphans saved hundreds of lives after warning a commuter train.
Bill Jenkinson
Bill Jenkinson is one of the country's most trusted and respected baseball historians. He has documented every hit in Babe Ruth’s career.
The Civil Rights Advocate
As far back as 1918, Babe played games against famous all-black teams. When Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees in 1920 and took his fame to a new level, half the games in his postseason barnstorming tour were against black teams.
Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
There is speculation that Landis actively worked to keep Babe from managing a team, fearful that Babe would have brought in black players to break the color barrier.
The Big Fella
Jane Leavy’s book is the definitive text on Babe.
Babe on the Radio
Babe appeared on countless radio programs once the medium became available.
Babe Boxing
In 1925, Babe Ruth’s career was in turmoil. Sick, overweight, and at odds with his manager, the Babe turned to trainer Artie McGovern, who salvaged the baseball player’s life and career—through boxing.
Game Worn Jersey
An SGC authenticated game worn Babe Ruth jersey from 1928-1930 set the record for the highest price ever paid publicly for a piece of memorabilia at $5.64 million in June of 2019.
More Than Just The Babe
The archives in the museum house way, way more than just Babe Ruth artifacts.
1934 Japan Tour
This kimono was presented to Babe during the 1934 tour of Japan. According to his daughter, Julia, it was a favorite from Babe’s night time wardrobe.
My Old Bathroom
No facade, but it was still pretty cool.
Babe And Lou
You thought my mom was joking, didn’t you?
The site of the original Star Spangled Banner.
Babe Ruth’s Birthplace
Filled with period-appropriate furniture and decorations.
Santa Babe
At the end of the Hotel Astor Christmas party on Dec. 10, 1947, Babe Ruth bestowed a wish upon everyone gathered there — and a few more people besides:
“I want to take this opportunity to wish all the children, not only in America but all over the world, a very Merry Christmas.”
Babe with Kids
Look at the pure joy on Babe’s face, and the intent listening happening by each and every one of the children in this photo.
Shoeless Joe
If you’re going to pick a player to model your swing after, you could do a lot worse than Shoeless Joe Jackson.
Boston Braves Babe
Not quite the storybook ending you’d have hoped for with a career like Babe’s, unfortunately.
Hotz’s Cafe
Yankee Stadium might be "The House That Ruth Built," but Hotz’s is the house the mighty Babe drank at when he was in Cleveland. A lot of the greatest old ballplayers did, going all the way back to the 1920s, from Ty Cobb to Lou Gehrig to Indians legend Rocky Colavito.
Babe Bowling
Julia Ruth Stevens, Babe’s daughter, told of going bowling with her father when they lived in New York. "Daddy liked to bowl the smaller balls, not tenpins, and we had great fun together," she said.
The sport of duckpins was invented in Baltimore by two Orioles, John McGraw and Wilbert Robertson, for off-season diversion.
That wimpy deer??
Joe D and Mickey
You ever see a picture where you just know that both people absolutely hated that they were asked for it to be taken?
Take Me To The Babe
These baseballs are painted on the sidewalk from the entrance to Camden Yards directly to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. There are 60 baseballs along the walk, one for every home run he hit in his record-breaking 1927 season.
Babe Ruth’s Two Swings
Issued by Spalding Sporting Goods in 1931, this flip book features Babe Ruth as a home run hitter on one side and Babe Ruth as a line drive hitter on the other side.
Babe Behind The Wheel
Some drives ended better than others, as it were.