Q 01/05

In which city was Babe Ruth born in 1895?

A) Boston

B) Pittsburgh

C) Philadelphia

D) Baltimore

Answer · why

D) Baltimore

Baltimore was certain, but the date was not. For most of his life Ruth believed he was born on February 7, 1894; a passport application then turned up...

Q 02/05

Sent at age seven to St. Mary's Industrial School, Ruth was recorded there as what?

A) Destitute

B) Incorrigible

C) Illiterate

D) Malnourished

Answer · why

B) Incorrigible

Incorrigible was the entry. St. Mary's was a reformatory as well as an orphanage, and Ruth was no orphan, yet the Xaverian Brothers kept him for most ...

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

Brother Matthias ran discipline at St. Mary's, yet Ruth came to see him as a father. Ruth praised him for the rest of his life.

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 an umpire

B) A rival league wrecked attendance

C) The ballpark lease had expired

D) Ruth demanded a bigger salary

Answer · why

B) A rival league wrecked attendance

A rival league wrecked attendance: the Federal League's Terrapins played across the street and outdrew the Orioles even while Ruth's club sat in first...