This page last modified:  Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 11:14 AM

The year 2001 marks the 50th anniversary of Babe Ruth League, Inc.  This non-profit, educational organization, named after one of the greatest baseball players of all time -George Herman “Babe” Ruth- has come a long way since its modest start 50 years ago.

in 1951, ten men, who believed that the future of their community depended upon the proper development of the young people, met at the historic Yardville Hotel in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, for the purpose of developing a baseball program for young men between 13 and 15 years of age.

Babe Ruth League, Inc. recognizes Marius E. Bonacci as the Founding Father of the program, along with the contribution of the following nine men, Samuel M. Welch, Ferdinand J. Wagner, Ed Jones, Ted Jasek, Cliff Fovour, Boots Snyder, William Dombrowski, Maskill Paxson and Willard Carson, Jr.

These ten men formed the Hamilton Township Little Bigger Baseball League, the forerunner of Babe Ruth League, Incorporated.  On Mar 14, 1951, the first ever Little Bigger League game was played between Homedell Civic Association and the White Horse Fire Company at Switlik Park.

From that first game on, the ten-team league played before enthusiastic crowds, so much so that in the following year League President Willard Carson, Jr. submitted an article to the Sporting News seeking interested parties in order to form a national baseball league for this age group.  Ninety-eight municipalities responded to that article and the rest is history!

Babe Ruth League, Inc. is now one of the nation’s premier amateur sports organizations and boasts close to 1,000,000 participants playing in its baseball and softball programs throughout the United States and Canada.

Highlights in Babe Ruth League History

1951 - Babe Ruth Baseball was founded in Hamilton Township, a suburb of Trenton, New Jersey to provide wholesome amateur baseball for 13, 14 and 15-year-old players.

1952 - Babe Ruth Baseball held its first World Series for the 13-15 year-old division in Trenton, New Jersey.

1958 - First World Series held outside the United States in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

1961 - The Hostess Program was established as part of each World Series.

1966 - Babe Ruth Baseball, recognizing the need for an older division, formed the 16-18 year-old division.

1968 - Babe Ruth Baseball held its first World Series for the 16-18 year-old division in Morristown, New Jersey.

1974 - Babe Ruth Baseball, in order to provide greater participation for younger players, formed the Babe Ruth Prep League limited to 13-year-old players.

1980 - Babe Ruth Baseball held its first World Series for the 13-year-old players in Jamestown, New York.

1982 - Babe Ruth Baseball instituted its Bambino Division for those players ages 5-12.

 National Umpires Association founded to better serve Babe Ruth leagues nationally.

1984 - Babe Ruth Baseball held its first Bambino Division (5-12) World Series in Shelbyville, Indiana.

1986 - Babe Ruth Baseball World Series Training Center opened in Jamestown, New York.

1987 - Rookie League became part of the Bambino Division.

1988 - Babe Ruth Baseball began to offer a summer baseball camp.

1989 - Carl Yastrzemski, a Babe Ruth graduate, inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame.  First Babe Ruth graduate to attain this honor.

1990 - Joe Morgan and Jim Palmer, Babe Ruth graduates inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1991 - Rod Carew, a Babe Ruth graduate, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1994 - Babe Ruth Baseball held its first 16-year-old World Series in Carmel, Indiana.

1997 - Babe Ruth League, Inc. opened office in Pfafftown, North Carolina.

1999 - Babe Ruth Baseball held its first 14-year-old World Series in Clifton Park, New York.

 Babe Ruth Softball held its first 12 & Under World Series in Jamestown, New York.

Babe Ruth Softball held its first 16 & Under World Series in Dare County, North Carolina.

George Brett and Nolan Ryan, Babe Ruth graduates, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2000 - Bambino Division for players ages 5-12 renamed Cal Ripken Baseball, a Division of                   Babe Ruth League, Inc.

2001 - 50th Anniversary of Babe Ruth League, Inc.

 First Cal Ripken 10 & Under World Series held in Vincennes, Indiana.

2003 - 16-18 year-old division expanded to include 19 year-olds.