Q 01/05

In which city was Babe Ruth born in 1895?

A) Boston

B) Pittsburgh

C) Philadelphia

D) Baltimore

Answer · why

D) Baltimore

His birthplace was renovated and opened as the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in 1974; his father later ran a saloon on West Camden Street.

Q 02/05

At what age was Ruth sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory and orphanage?

A) Seven

B) Four

C) Ten

D) Fourteen

Answer · why

A) Seven

His daughter Julia later said his saloon-keeper father gave him so little supervision that he became a delinquent.

Q 03/05

Which St. Mary's staff member did Ruth credit with making him a hitter?

A) Brother Herman

B) Brother Matthias

C) Father Gilbert

D) Brother Paul

Answer · why

B) Brother Matthias

Ruth said he was born as a hitter the first day he saw Matthias hit a baseball; the $5,000 Cadillac came in 1926, and Ruth replaced it after a crash.

Q 04/05

Which minor-league owner signed Ruth in 1914, giving rise to the nickname "Babe"?

A) Emil Fuchs of the Boston Braves

B) Harry Frazee of the Red Sox

C) Jack Dunn of the Baltimore Orioles

D) Jacob Ruppert of the Yankees

Answer · why

C) Jack Dunn of the Baltimore Orioles

Veteran players called the rookie "Dunnie's babe"; "Babe" was a common baseball nickname at the time.

Q 05/05

Why did the Orioles have to sell Ruth to the Red Sox in July 1914?

A) Ruth had assaulted a league umpire

B) A rival Federal League team ruined attendance

C) The team lost its lease on the ballpark

D) Ruth demanded a major-league salary

Answer · why

B) A rival Federal League team ruined attendance

Paid attendance fell as low as 150 despite the Orioles being in first place, so Dunn sold his best players to raise money.