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Over
fifty years ago, a group of men dedicated to the
youth of America met in a suburb of Trenton, New
Jersey, and formed what became the very first Babe
Ruth League. This group of men eventually agreed
to name Marius D. Bonacci as the “founder” of the
program which was initially registered under the
name Little Bigger League. The program was renamed
in 1954 when Claire Ruth, Babe Ruth’s widow, who
had learned of the merits of the organization and
its tremendous growth, met with the administrators.
She subsequently gave the organization permission
to change its name to Babe Ruth League. She has
been quoted as saying, “Babe Ruth was a man who
loved children and baseball; he could receive no
greater tribute than to have a youth baseball program
named after him.”
Babe Ruth League, Inc. caught on nationally,
then internationally. It now ranks as the premier
amateur baseball and softball program in the world.
Babe Ruth League, Inc. has increased steadily
from its first 10-team league in Hamilton Township,
New Jersey, to its present combined size of over
886,500 players on some 45,200 teams in more than
7,315 leagues.
The success of the Baseball and Softball program
is due to the millions of volunteer hours spent
every year. Every volunteer, from the local League
Manager to the Chairman of the 17-member International
Board, is dedicated to the betterment of youth,
while at the same time producing better players.
A seven-member Executive Staff, assisted by Regional
Service Representatives, maintains Babe Ruth's
International Headquarters at 1770 Brunswick Pike
in the suburban Trenton community of Lawrence
Township with an additional office in Pfafftown,
North Carolina.
 Local
leagues are independent within the guidelines
provided by Babe Ruth League International Board.
The Babe Ruth International Board is the governing
body while Babe Ruth Headquarters is the administrative
and promotional center.
It is the 13-15 Division, started in 1951, where
the players get their baseball feet wet for the
first time under regulations and rules on standard
diamonds. Each chartered league is eligible to
enter a team in tournament competition. District
winners go into statewide competition with that
successful club qualifying for one of eight regional
tourneys. This division's first World Series was
held in 1952.
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