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Posted By: Gary Cieradkowski

In 2002 I took a year off of work and travelled around the country with an exhibit from the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore. We'd set up the exhibit at minor league parks for a few days at a time and then move on to the next stop. I tell you, I have stories to last a lifetime, but my favorite was hearing from people who met the big man, no one had a bad thing to say about him and a few old-times got teary-eyed talking about him. But the fun part was bringing the real Babe to people who only heard the crazy (yet almost always true) stories. People were very surprised to learn how Ruth wasn't always the big rotund guy he is always portrayed as, infact he was quite svelt in his younger days. Something like 120 stolen bases in his lifetime (mostly in the early 20's) and even stole home a few times. He was barrel-chested but strong as an ox, even under the fat later on. In the early 20's he would let himself go to pot by the end of the season and then get in shape during the winter doing physical activity, and later as said before, using a physical trainer.

I am a 3rd generation Yankee-hater and can't stand Boston, but man, I love the Babe!