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Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Nat Fein, 7 Aug 1914 - 26 Sep 2000
Sitter
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, 6 Feb 1895 - 17 Aug 1948
Date
1947
Type
Photograph
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet/Mount: 30cm x 24cm (11 13/16" x 9 7/16")
2nd Mount: 50.1cm x 40.8cm (19 3/4" x 16 1/16")
Topic
Costume\Headgear\Hat
Exterior\Sports arena\Baseball stadium
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth: Male
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Baseball
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© Nat Fein
Object number
NPG.92.118
Exhibition Label
For Ruth, retirement was a constant challenge to keep himself busy while putting his restless energies to good use. He desperately wanted to stay connected with Major League Baseball, ideally as a team manager. But no serious offers ever came his way. Still, he was in demand. He lost forty-seven pounds in two months to play himself in the 1942 film Pride of the Yankees, a tribute to the life of Lou Gehrig. During World War II he volunteered in fund-raisers for the Army and Navy, and visited veterans’ hospitals. He played golf for charities, bowled in his free time, and took various hunting and fishing trips. And there were always countless autographs to sign wherever he went.
This photograph by Nat Fein shows Ruth being welcomed back to Yankee Stadium on “Babe Ruth Day,” April 27, 1947.
El retiro significó para Ruth el reto constante de mantenerse ocupado y dar buen uso a su rebosante energía. Deseaba con ahínco seguir relacionado con el béisbol de grandes ligas, idealmente como mánager. Pero no recibió ofertas concretas. Aun así, seguía en demanda. En 1942 rebajó cuarenta y siete libras para interpretarse a sí mismo en la película Pride of the Yankees, en homenaje a la vida de Lou Gehrig. Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial participó como voluntario en recaudaciones de fondos para el Ejército y la Marina, y visitaba los hospitales de veteranos. Jugaba golf para causas benéficas y bolos cuando tenía tiempo, e hizo varios viajes de caza y pesca. Por supuesto, también tenía que firmar incontables autógrafos dondequiera que iba.
Esta foto de Nat Fein muestra a Ruth recibiendo la bienvenida en su regreso al Estadio Yankee el “Día de Babe Ruth”, 27 de abril de 1947.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view