Daughter Throws First Pitch in Honor of 'The Bambino'
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Saturday, August 18, 2007
Most people call him “Babe,” the “Sultan of Swat,” or maybe “The Bambino.”
Julia Ruth Stevens simply calls him “Daddy.”
Stevens, daughter of baseball legend Babe Ruth, was in Purcellville Friday to throw the first pitch after the opening ceremony of the Babe Ruth World Series.
"He would get such a kick out of these tournaments," she said about her father. "He thought every kid should play baseball -- and should start by the age of 6."
How is her pitching arm?
"I'll do the best I can," she said before the second game of the day, laughing. "I'll give it my best shot."
Stevens, 91, spent Thursday evening posing for pictures with each of the teams playing in the tournament. She said she signed her autograph so many times she couldn’t remember anyone’s name.
Photo Gallery
Babe Ruth World Series Opening Day
The host team takes the field during the opening ceremonies for the 2007 Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old World Series at Fireman's Field in Purcellville, VA. Greater Loudoun's No. 9 Patrick Charney is in the center, laughing. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Julia Ruth Stevens, daughter of Babe Ruth, made a special appearance at the opening ceremonies of the Babe Ruth World Series in Purcellville. With her is Joe Brill, Babe Ruth League Ambassador from Quincy, Mass. Stevens is 91. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Teri Westbrook of Reston is selling programs at the Babe Ruth World Series in Purcellville. She is greeting people as they come to the opening ceremonies. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Keith Devlin, No. 26, who plays for the team from Hopewell N.J., paces the dugout while his team is at bat. Hopewell lost to Youngstown, 10-2. (Cara McCoy)
Maddie Warndorf, 11, came to watch the opening ceremonies at the Babe Ruth World Series with her family from Round Hill. In back, from left: her father, Paul Warndorf, and her brothers Jim and Joe, both 8 years old. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Allison Urban, of Philomont, is one of the host families for players in town for the Babe Ruth World Series. She is hosting the Manchester, N. H., team at her home. She came to the game with her 4-month-old son, Jack. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Some of the trophies for the 13-and-Under Babe Ruth World Series wait in the Purcellville skating rink. (Cara McCoy)
Julia Ruth Stevens, daughter of baseball legend Babe Ruth, came to the 2007 13-and-Under Babe Ruth World Series in Purcellville. She is sitting next to Joe Brill, a Babe Ruth ambassador, from Quincy, Mass. (Cara McCoy)
Greater Loudoun's Tyler Mocabee, No. 38, makes the this throw for the play at first base during the second inning of the Friday night Babe Ruth World Series game. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Youngstown's No. 8 Brad Smith watches his teammates bat from the dugout. No. 6 Tony Mehle is in the background. (Cara McCoy)
A catch by Ohio's No. 13, Ryan Halicki, gets an out at first base during the second game of the Babe Ruth World Series against Hopewell, N.J. Ohio won 10-2. (Cara McCoy)
Youngstown's Tony Mehle, No. 6, walks out on the field during the second game of the 13-Year-Old Babe Ruth World Series against Hopewell, N.J. (Cara McCoy)
This map shows where players in the Babe Ruth World Series traveled from in order to get to Purcellville. In the whole league, there are 10 world series for the different age brackets (including softball). (Cara McCoy)
A bracket for the 2007 Babe Ruth World Series in Purcellville hangs on the bleachers beneath a street sign for "Babe Ruth Drive." (Cara McCoy)
Vanessa Kaiser (far left) and Gail Layman volunteer at the souvenir stand during the Babe Ruth World Series in Purcellville. The women work for Greenbest in Tysons Corner. Profits from the event are used to sponsor future games and also go toward improvements for Fireman's Field. (Cara McCoy)
Teams from Youngstown, Ohio, and Hopewell, N.J., pause while "God Bless America" is played over the loudspeaker during the Babe Ruth World Series at Fireman's Field in Purcellville. (Cara McCoy)
Flags from each state represented in the Babe Ruth World Series fly in the outfield at Fireman's Field in Purcellville. (Cara McCoy)
Fans watch the second game of opening day between a team from Youngstown, Ohio, and a team from Hopewell Valley, N.J. Youngstown won the game 10-2. (Cara McCoy)
Shaila Millman, with her daughter, Alexandra, cheer as one of the players who is staying with them takes the plate. The Millmans are one of the host families for the Babe Ruth World Series in Purcellville. They live in Hamilton. (Cara McCoy)
All the players in the tournament autographed this poster, which is on display in the Purcellville skating rink. (Cara McCoy)
“Except ‘Tom.’ I remember all the ‘Toms’ I signed for because that’s my son’s name,” she said.
The tournament is at Fireman’s Field in Purcellville through Aug. 24. As the tournament’s host team, the Greater Loudoun Lions had the honor of playing in the first game after the ceremonial opening of the tournament Friday evening. The Lions defeated a team from Bryant, Ark., in eight innings by a score of 4-3.
More than 120 teenage boys from around the country are in Purcellville for the tournament. About 250 volunteers have been involved in everything from helping to sell concessions to hosting players in their houses.
Players are required to stay with families during the tournament to help them learn more about the world around them. It’s against league rules for players to stay in a hotel -- even with their parents.
Bob Smedile, whose son Connor is an outfielder for the Greater Loudoun Lions, volunteered to organize the host families this year.
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Related stories
- Aug. 16, 2007 -- Babe Ruth Series Hits Purcellville
- March 30, 2006 -- Babe Ruth Tourney Returning To County
- Aug. 26, 2004 -- For Lions, It's 'a Great Accomplishment'
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He said two families offered to house, feed and shuttle six boys. Another family has five boys. One family has four. Smedile had one word to describe the support from the community: “Fantastic.”
"Everyone is just so giving," he said.
Shaila Millman is hosting two boys. She yelled and cheered from the stands for one of the boys, applauding him for letting a ball cross the plate rather than take a swing at it.
Millman, who lives in Hamilton, has two players from the Ohio Valley team staying with her during the 10-day tournament. Her 8-year-old son, Thomas, has played baseball in Loudoun since he was 4 years old and is volunteering as a batboy during the tournament.
She was rooting for the Ohio team Friday as much as she was for the hometown Loudoun Lions.
"We just cheer for everyone," she said. "We want everyone to do well."
Cheering fans weren’t the only ones in the stands Friday afternoon. Loudoun Lions manager Michael Lockhart made sure to attend, scoping out the competition.
The Lions have never faced any of the teams in this year’s tournament.
Lockhart, who coaches at Notre Dame Academy during the regular season, said he was proud of his team for making it so far. He wouldn’t elaborate on plans for a celebration if the team was to win, but he did say the town of Purcellville would be celebrating right along with them.
"The kids are excited about the opportunity to stay home and play for a hometown crew," he said.
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Great story and photos, Julia Ruth Stevens had a great visit to Purcellville. She could not have been any happier with the way she was treated by everyone from a-z. I myself feel the same, I want to thank everyone involved. The Babe Ruth Committee from Loudoun County have done a super job, agin I had a great time and enjoyed the warm friendly people. Thanks, Joe Brill Quincy, MA
Posted by jab24517 (anonymous) on August 20, 2007 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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