George Herman “Babe” Ruth spent his formative years at St. Mary’s Industrial School, a very strict, all-boys Catholic school and home for orphans and delinquents. Ruth spent 12 years at St. Mary’s, from age 7 to age 19. Growing up in a strict dormitory was much different from the childhood of a “normal” kid, but the school, his mentors, and teachers had a huge impact on his life and it was with the help of St. Mary’s that Babe went on to great things.
Perhaps the most impactful figure in Ruth’s life was Brother Matthias. After all, it was Brother Matthias who taught young George to play baseball.
Brother Matthias was a large, formidable man. Ruth recounted that he “never [forgot] the first time I saw him hit a ball. The baseball in 1902 was a lump of mush, but Brother Matthias would stand at the end of the yard, throw the ball up with his left hand, and give it a terrific belt with the bat he held in his right hand. The ball would carry 350 feet, a tremendous knock in those days. I would watch him bug-eyed.”
Brother Matthias took to the young Ruth and became a combined teacher, mentor, coach, and father-figure. When Ruth came to St. Mary’s he was labeled as “incorrigible,” and he said, “Perhaps I would always have been but for (Xaverian) Brother Matthias, the greatest man I have ever known, and for the religious training I received there which has since been so important to me.”
Had Ruth not had a patient and persistent coach in Brother Matthias, things may have been very different for him. But the impact St. Mary’s made on Babe stuck with him throughout his life.
Returning to His Roots
“No one knew better than I what it meant not to have your own home, a backyard, your own kitchen and ice box. That’s why all through the years, even when the big money was rolling in, I’d never forget St. Mary’s, Brother Matthias and the boys I left behind. I kept going back.” In fact, Babe would even invite the St. Mary’s School Band on barnstorming tours with him.
It is likely because of Babe’s childhood experiences that he always made time for kids – just like Brother Matthias made time for Babe. Throughout his life, Ruth would visit orphanages, children’s hospitals, special events, and signed a countless number of baseballs for young fans.
At the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, we want Ruth’s story to inspire your team or group. We offer virtual or in-person tours, Q&As with curators/historians, programming, and more.
The Babe Ruth Museum is just minutes from Oriole Park at Camden Yards and is a great place to tour before going to a game. Group rates available for groups of 15+, $4 for adults, and $3 for students. Tours can be arranged by calling 410-727-1539 ext. 3033 or by emailing katied@baberuthmuseum.org