Babe Ruth Reference book "Who Was Babe Ruth" By Joan Holub I was born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. My parents named me George Herman, Jr. I was one of 7 kids. Only my younger sister, Mamie, and me survived from infancy. I was a bad kid I stole apples from the store I skipped school I played baseball in the street and I snitched whiskey from my daddy's bar. At the age of seven my dad dropped me off at the St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys. This was a school that orphans and unwanted boys came to. The first few night's, I cried myself to sleep. All the teachers woke us up at 6:30 in the morning. We had a watchman keep his eye on us at all times so we couldn't sneak off or misbehave. It was a very strict place .One day in the schoolyard I met a man who changed my life! His name was Brother Matthias. He was a great baseball player. Baseball was the POPULAR sport at this time. Brother Matthias was calm and firm but always fair. He paid attention to me like no one else ever had. I really looked up to him like he was my new father. Brother Matthias started a league with about 40 teams. He chose the best players at the school. I was so good at baseball that when I was 8 I played with 12 year olds. I was left-handed and the school only had right hand gloves, this made it harder for me to play baseball. I was a great catcher. One day I made fun of the pitcher so Matthias asked me to give it a try. I was outstanding! I was a real natural. I stayed at Saint Mary's school for 12 years. Jack Dunn, the head coach of the Orioles minor league team, came to watch me one day. He offered me 600 dollars a year to pitch for his team. I was thrilled and surprised! I didn't know in the pros you got paid. Along with the rest of the Orioles I took the train to Fayetteville North Carolina. never been outside of EFTA00295097