Babe's Dream

The Babe's Dream is a bronze statue of Babe Ruth, by Susan Luery. It is located at West Camden Street and South Eutaw Street, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore.

The statue contains an error in that Ruth is depicted with a right-handed fielder's glove, for wear on the left hand. Ruth threw left-handed.

In Baltimore, Maryland, at the Camden Yards baseball park, there is a statue of Babe Ruth, the famous New York Yankee player. Although he became famous as a Yankee, George Herman Ruth’s roots are from Baltimore. Babe Ruth was born and grew up in Baltimore, where he learned how to play baseball. The statue of Ruth portrays him as a young man, about the time he started out as a rookie. The statues name is “Babe’s Dream,” because the artist, Susan Luery, wanted to portray Babe’s longing for the big leagues, or at least an escape from his harsh childhood.

Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, to hardworking parents, who couldn’t support a child that caused as much “mischief” as Babe. At age seven, his parents decided to “straighten him out” by sending him to Baltimore’s St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, where he could learn how to have more discipline. This turned out to be the beginning of the stars true love for the game of baseball.

Babe Ruth is a legend in the world of baseball. He played baseball for 22 years, setting the records for home runs at 714 and holding that record until 1974 when Hank Aaron surpassed it. Ruth is credited with changing the game of baseball in America forever. He set the bar to new heights, naming him “Baseball’s Greatest Player Ever.” His hometown wanted to present his accomplishments and dedicate a truly remarkable stature, made by Susan Luery, to him and his legend.

Susan Luery was born in Baltimore, Maryland, making her the perfect candidate for making the sculpture because of her sincere love for the city already. She attended the Maryland Institute College of Art where she learned how to refine her work. Luery spent much time researching him by reading books, and talking to people with both knowledge of Ruth and baseball so she could “connect” with character. She also had a look-alike model come into her studio while she worked on the statue. It took her seven months to form the 28-inch model statue before creating the large-scale version. She finally produced the 16 foot stature that stands today a year after. The statue was completed in 1994, where it was placed in the Camden Yards on Babe’s 100th birthday in February 1995. The statue was officially unveiled at an Oriole’s game where Luery and Ruth’s daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, threw out the game ball for celebration. Luery portrayed Ruth as a fierce competitor as he is gazing out into the future. “A man looking at his destiny,” is how Susan Luery put it. “His poise was in the sense of determination that he was a great player,” she said. “He’s facing out – he had everything in front of him. Ruth’s career rose pretty much straight into the record books from there.” Babe Ruth is an athlete that changed many lives and created many new dreams for young baseball fans. His life should be celebrated and his endeavors recognized for his high achievements.