Mission: To collect, preserve, interpret and display artifacts and documents that accurately portray the factual and legendary aspects of George Herman "Babe" Ruth, both as a baseball player and as a national folk hero. The museum also preserves and maintains the building, which is the only birthplace of an athlete listed as a National Historic Site. And the museum chronicles the history of the Baltimore Orioles baseball club and the history of baseball in Maryland.
Latest accomplishment: In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Babe Ruth's death, the museum took its first traveling display of the Bambino on the road in April for a 23-city tour of minor league and major league ballparks. Aug. 14, the museum opened its newest exhibit, "Still in the Spotlight after the Show: Babe Ruth's Life After Baseball, 1935-1948."
On the horizon: The museum's planned expansion into historic Camden Station at Oriole Park is in the final stages of design development and fund-raising. The project will feature interactive and educational displays and programs encompassing the museum's major exhibit themes: Babe Ruth, the Orioles and local baseball.
About the museum: Membership: 701 households. Attendance: 41,000 annually. Operating budget: $904,844.
Where and when: 216 Emory St., Baltimore. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, April through October; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Orioles' home-game days; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Call 410-727-1539.
Jill McGovern, chairwoman of the board of directors: "As the guardian of Babe Ruth's legacy and the official museum of the Baltimore Orioles, the Babe Ruth Museum showcases baseball's best and Baltimore's best. With Babe as an enduring cultural icon, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Baseball Center will enhance Baltimore's appeal as a tourist destination."
Members of the board
Marc J. Atas
Blain S. Baer
Eric J. Benzer
Jay M. Blumenthal
Douglas E. Brown
Robert Brown
Lester Buster
Bill Donovan
Rev. F. Lyman Farnham
Joseph E. Foss
Mark Friedman
Stephen A. Geppi
John Haas
Jay Harris
Bob Hawkins
Robert S. Hillman
Michael Hodes
Karen Kauffman
Peter Kirk
Joe Little
Lawrence Lucchino
Charles L. Maker
John Mentzer
Clare Miller
Ernestine Miller
Tim Nordbrook
Henry D. Parker Jr.
Robert Pinkner
Fred Puddester
M. Delmar Ritchie
Arthur L. Silber
Francis E. Sliwka Jr.
Emma Stokes
Michael Styer
John Szymanski
Guy Tamberino
Otis Warren
Thomas Winstead
Pub Date: 8/23/98