Babe Ruth’s St. Pete centennial celebrated Feb. 6-8

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This month, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s arrival in St. Pete, as a member of the New York Yankees. The Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth is hosting centennial events Feb. 6-8.

A century later, Ruth is still considered the most transcendent figure in baseball and one of the greatest icons in American history. Babe Ruth was much more than a baseball star – he was an international celebrity, the greatest of his era. Athletically gifted and charismatic, he dominated the media. He put the “roar” in the Roaring ’20s.

St. Petersburg artist Blake Emory’s life-sized statue “Babe Ruth Calls His Shot,” which does not yet have a permanent home, will be unveiled at two separate events Feb. 8. Photo provided.

Over the course of a century, the name Babe Ruth has not lost its magic.

Ruth’s on and off the field activities in St. Pete were covered by newspapers worldwide, bringing publicity to the city and boosting the tourism industry. “The Yankees with Babe Ruth and their stars meant millions to this town,” said Mayor Al Lang.

In 1925, during the train ride back to New York after the Yankees’ first spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Ruth became seriously ill and was hospitalized for six weeks. A sportswriter wrote that the illness was due to the Babe’s diet of hot dogs and soda and the incident came to be known as “the bellyache heard ‘round the world.” He missed much of the season, and the Yankees finished in next to last place.

Ruth was present at the opening of the Jungle Hotel on February 10, 1926; he celebrated many of his birthdays at the Jungle Hotel. The building still stands and is now Admiral Farragut Academy.

The Jungle Country Club in St. Petersburg became one of the country’s most renowned golf courses because of his presence. He drove a golf ball 360 yards on the 388-yard fourth hole on the Jungle course.

On March 2, 1933, Ruth scored a hole-in-one on the Pasadena golf course. Golf was considered a sport for the wealthy country club set before pictures of Babe Ruth golfing made the sport popular with the masses.

He enjoyed deep-sea fishing near St. Pete Beach. He was a frequent patron of Derby Lane greyhound track.

In 1927, he helped establish the American Legion Crippled Children’s Hospital, a forerunner of today’s Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Ruth was famous for his concern for children’s welfare, often visiting orphanages and hospitals. He didn’t do it for publicity. Said sports journalist Bill Slocum: “For every picture you see of the Babe in a hospital, he visits 50 without publicity.”

In 1930, during a stay at the Jungle Hotel, Ruth wrote a letter on hotel letterhead to the students of Central High School in Philadelphia encouraging them to work hard, live a clean life, save money and honor their parents.

He was known to celebrate (and over-celebrate) at the Gangplank, a speakeasy located near the Jungle Hotel. In April ’29, Ruth and his brand-new second wife Claire threw a lavish wedding reception at the Gangplank (current home of the JP Tavern).

Fact: In 1925 during spring training at Crescent Lake Park in St. Petersburg, Ruth sprinted off the field and shouted “I ain’t going out there anymore. There’s an alligator!”

Fact: Babe Ruth’s longest documented home run off major league pitching was over 600 feet at St. Petersburg’s Waterfront Park – the current site of Al Lang Stadium – in 1934.

Fact: 60 home runs in a season (1927), 714 career home runs.

Fact: With Ruth in the ranks, the Yankees won seven pennants and four World Series titles.

Fact: Ruth signed his 1932 contract with the Yankees ($75,000) in the lounge of Gulfport’s Hotel Rolyat (now Stetson University College of Law). A second signing, for photographers, was staged outdoors in the flower garden.

Schedule of events

Thursday, Feb. 6

Official City Recognition of Babe Ruth’s contributions to St. Petersburg. City Hall proclamation declaring 2025 the Centennial Year of Babe Ruth playing baseball in St. Petersburg, and declaring Feb. 8 Babe Ruth Day.

Friday, Feb. 7

12:30 p.m.: Babe Ruth Birthday Party, St. Petersburg Museum of History.

Measurement of Babe Ruth’s 611-foot home run, Al Lang Stadium parking lot.

Saturday, Feb. 8 (Babe Ruth Day)

12 p.m.: Kids and Kubs vs. Mayor Welch’s City Hall Stars, North Shore Baseball Field. Babe Ruth’s grandson Tom Stevens to throw out the first pitch and play.

Statue by St. Pete artist Blake Emory “Babe Ruth Calls His Shot” unveiled.

5 p.m. Jungle Golf Cart Parade, Farragut Drive, Azalea neighborhood, sponsored by the Azalea Neighborhood Association.

6 p.m. Celebration at Jungle Prada Sacred Lands site, near the Gangplank speakeasy (JP Tavern, 1700 Park Street N). Featuring the Ruth family and the Blake Emory statue.

Steve Elftmann is a member of the Committee to Commemorate Babe Ruth.