Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Major League Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder and pitcher for New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Boston Braves 1914-1935.
DOB: Feb 6, 1895 Died: August 16, 1948
Birthplace: Baltimore, MD
(This interview was done with Babe Ruth’s granddaughter Linda Ruth Tosetti.)
Childhood Hero: Shoeless Joe Jackson.
Nicknames: The Colossus Of Clout, The Sultan of Swat, The Wham of Bam, Caveman, Tarzan, The Goliath, Mauler, Gidge – from Lou Gehrig’s family.
Hobbies: Anything sports affiliated – bowler, scratch golfer, billiards – he could clear a table. Listening to The Shadow and The Lone Ranger radio programs while smoking a White Owl cigar.
Funny Career Memory: In the 1930s, the Yankees were invited overseas to Asia. They were the guests of an emperor and they were all sitting around the table. And Babe said, ‘That was the most delicious meal I ever had.’ And the emperor said through his translator, ‘I’m glad you liked it. We had a prized chow dog killed in honor of the Yankees.’ And with that, the Yankees sort of grabbed their throats and stood up. And Babe said, ‘That was so good I’ll have another piece!’
Most Treasured Possession: His silver crown that the Yankees made for him. For when he won the batting title in 1924. It was a foot-and-a-half tall. When he died, he donated it to the Hall of Fame. My mother said he had a lot of fun with that, wearing it for pictures.
Greatest Career Moment: Probably hitting his 60th home run in 1927. He beat his own record. In private, maybe it was getting the twelve point deer he had mounted.
Most Painful Moment: When the Yankees didn’t make him manager. He knew the game so well. He really wanted to be a manager with the Yankees. I guess his saddest moment was not getting a chance to manage.
Favorite Food: Actually, believe it or not, it was hot dogs (with mustard).
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Wheaties. They gave him a year supply.
Early Baseball Memory: My mother told me the time he had his first paycheck from Boston (age 19) he bought himself a pedal bike. He always wanted a bike.
Favorite Athletes: Jack Dempsey. He really liked Jack a lot. They used spar. Lou Gehrig – best buddies. Bobby Jones. Lefty Gomez.
Musical Tastes: Peter DeRose.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Greenwood Lake, NY. He went around the world but he went there the most. He had a boat there.
Career batting average .342; 714 career home runs; Seven time World Series champion; 1923 AL MVP; Uniform no. 3 retired by Yankees; Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1936; In 2018, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump – grandson Tom Stevens accepted the award on Ruth’s behalf.
(Artwork by LeRoy Neiman)
