The Christian Science Monitor

'The Big Fella' portrays Babe Ruth as the first modern sports celebrity

Babe Ruth never made a nickel from the Baby Ruth candy bar despite its creator all but admitting the famed slugger inspired the name — and despite a legal challenge by Ruth. The official line from the Curtiss Candy Company? The Baby Ruth name stood in tribute to Ruth Cleveland, daughter of President Grover Cleveland.

Since the candy bar debuted in 1921, just as Ruth established himself as baseball’s most captivating player, the explanation then and now seems ridiculous. Especially when one remembers Ruth Cleveland died in 1904 and her father left the White House in

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor3 min read
The Monitor’s 10 Best New Books Of April
Real Americans, by Rachel Khong Rachel Khong’s dazzling second novel probes issues of class, race, genetics, and identity. Her gripping narrative encompasses several love stories, political repression, the promise and limits of science, and the rever
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readInternational Relations
Can Israel Embrace America’s Vision Of A ‘New Middle East’?
It’s decision time for Israel. And the question it faces goes beyond the immediate challenge of how to hit back against Iran’s barrage of missiles and drones last weekend. It is a choice about Israel’s future relations with its Mideast neighbors and
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
How To Stop ‘Forever Chemicals’ From Lasting, Well, Forever
Long before the Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules this month about “forever chemicals” in drinking water, officials in the state of Vermont knew there was a problem. Regulators there began looking into PFAS – shorthand for synthetic

Related Books & Audiobooks