Young Babe Ruth: His Early Life and Baseball Career, from the Memoirs of a Xaverian Brother [Paperback]

Brother Gilbert (Author), Harry Rothgerber (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

This work contains the heretofore unpublished memoirs of Xaverian Brother Gilbert (a.k.a. Philip F. Cairnes), who is generally credited with being the mentor who steered the Babe to his first professional contract. Ruth was raised by the Xaverian Brothers, a Catholic religious order, at St. Mary's Industrial School from 1902 (when he was only 7) until 1914. These reminiscences begin with Babe Ruth's departure from St. Mary's and concentrate on his early playing years. An historical introduction by the editor of these memoirs, Harry Rothgerber, details the history and relationship that existed between this organization of Catholic educators and the man who was to become the most influential baseball player and greatest slugger who ever lived. Brother John Joseph Sterne, the book's forewordist, recounts a St. Mary's band fundraising trip in which they accompanied the Yankees through the American League cities at the end of the 1920 season. Several heretofore unpublished photos from the Xaverian Order complement the text.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When George "Babe" Ruth was abandoned by his parents and sent to live at Saint Mary's Industrial School, Xaverian Brother Gilbert became his mentor. In these previously unpublished memoirs, completed in 1947, Gilbert shares his thoughts about the Babe's passion for life and his reckless youth. Each chapter, with plenty of dialogue and personal insight, is headed by extensive commentary from editor Harry Rothgerber, who provides context and smooths out Gilbert's text. Unfortunately, the book may be a hard sell to readers: the print is small, the vocabulary is often complex and archaic, and the contemplative tone won't appeal to many teens today. Still, the memoir, which includes several photographs and a lengthy index, does provide a discerning account of the formative years of an American hero whose legend is steeped as much in his robust personality as in his athletic achievements. Roger Leslie

About the Author

The late Brother Gilbert, also known as Philip F. Cairnes, wrote these memoirs not long before his death in 1947. Harry Rothgerber, an attorney in the public defender's office in Louisville, Kentucky, was co-chair of the annual SABR National Convention in 1997. He writes for the Baseball Research Journal, The National Pastime, and Louisville Baseball in the Major and Minor Leagues, along with several legal publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786406526
• ISBN-13: 978-0786406524
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( R ) > Ruth, Babe

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