Blast From The Past - No BG

Step into your alumni time machine and take a historical look at the Babe Ruth League Program. Babe Ruth League, Inc. began with a vision.  Through teamwork, inspiration, and hard work, it has become one of the leading youth baseball and softball programs in the world.  The main goal will always remain the same – TO PUT KIDS FIRST!

Little Bigger League Participants First BRL HQ First Little Bigger Lg Team
Original Members of the Little Bigger League (now known as Babe Ruth League, Inc.) - from left, Ray Bell, Gil Lugossy, Jack Zoller, Walter Fajgier, Joe Brodowski, Jerry Welsh, and Jack Lacy.   First Babe Ruth Headquarters - Located in a row home on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey. Photo of the first Little Bigger League Team.

West Field In Trenton 1957 WS Champions Photo W Trenton WS Champs
Wetzel Field in Trenton, New Jersey was home to the first Babe Ruth World Series held in 1952. Stamford, Connecticut won the title as 13-15 Champions. 1957 World Series hosted by Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Harold Kleis, head of the Ann Arbor Coca-Cola Bottling Company (second from left) hands over the championship flag to Lou Vickery, pitcher for champions Pensacola, Florida.  Looking on is Wayne McConnell, Director of the Sports Program for Coca-Cola (left); Lawrence Moser, President of the League (holding pennant at right); and C. C. Stoddard, Detroit District Manager of Bottler Sales for Coca-Cola. All Hail Trenton, New Jersey - 1962 Babe Ruth League Champions of the 13-15 World Series held in Bridgeton, New Jersey.  Gino Silvestro, Gary Vogler, George Wah, and Frank Partkya, representat ives of the Trenton team, receive their well-earned banner from International BRL President Walter Cocks of Des Moines, Iowa.

Mrs Ruth At Bridgeton Mrs Ruth With Players Mickey Lolich
Pictured are Dr. William G. Williams, BRL Chairman of Publicity and Mrs. Babe Ruth of national fame.  Dr. Williams will hold press conferences, while Mrs. Ruth will be an official greeter and honored guest at the 1962 Babe Ruth World Series in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Mrs. Babe Ruth poses for a picture with players from the Stratford Pal (Connecticut) team during the 1962 World Series in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Mickey Lolich - Pitcher, Detroit Tigers. The year 1964 was Mickey Lolich's first full season as a major leaguer.  In Babe Ruth League competition, this young hurler turned in 28 wins and 2 losses, and pitcher in two BRL World Series.  

1964 Board Meeting First HOF Members 1971 WS Torn Of Champs - Stamford CT
1964 BRL Board of Directors Meeting - Chicago, Illinois.  Front row (l to r):  Milton Grannatt, Secretary; Clifford Connor, Treasurer; George Wyse, President; Jack O'Keefe, VP; Walter Cocks; J. Jervey Gantt; and Lawrence Moser.  Second row ( l to r): Walter Phillips; Alfred Stanton; George Barr; Joseph Cookson; Stan Ziomek; Samuel Welch; Dominic George; Ray Bell; J. Wilson Noden; W.G. Bowen; and Vern Hernlund. 1968 - Plaques designating the first members of the BRL Hall of Fame are displayed by relatives of three deceased members and Richard Crockett (right), President of the Hamilton Township Babe Ruth League.  Shown in the above photo are (l to r):  Robert Walker, whose father George was elected; Mrs. Marius Bonacci, whose husband was the BRL founder; Mrs. J. Goodner Gill, whose husband was also named; and Crockett.  The awards were presented during the 1968 Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament at Switlik Park, Hamilton Township, New Jersey.

Members of the Stamford, Connecticut Babe Ruth team who won the 1971 Tournament of Champions. Front row, from left: Bob Giordano, Mike Barry, Ed Radocy, Pete Zoppi and Steve Lely. Second row, from left, John Leone, Bill DeCarlo, Bob Augustyn, Sam Guarino, George Dyer, Ted Cole and Bob Robustelli. Back row, from left: Manager Fred Giuliani, Coach Fred Robertucci, Joe Mancini, John Darling, Doug Nelson, Bill Susetko, Jim Cobb, Chris Vane and Manager Mickey Lione, Jr.

TN Photo Firmin Sims First Ws Champ 1971 HQ Staff
Babe Ruth Week in Tennessee 1971.  Winfield Dunn, Governor of Tennessee, puts his signature on a proclamation that calls the week of May 8-18, "Babe Ruth Week in Tennessee" whil members of the Nashville Babe Ruth League look on.  Players present at the signing were (l to r): Jeff Dillingham, Gene Watson, Bucky Ford, Robert Diehl, Tommy Hughes, Pat Satterfield, Phil Stinson, Steve Johnson, Anthony Law, Mike Hullett, Randy Hackett, and Tommy Willilams.

Firmin Simms (second from left) was a legendary amateur coach in the New Orleans area for over 30 years. The Babe Ruth League teams he coached won countless championships at the local, state, regional, and national levels. His first national championship came during the Babe Ruth World Series in 1965. They went on to win four consecutive Babe Ruth World Series, through 1968, and added a fifth World Series title in 1981 under Simms.  Team members consisted of catchers Joe Kieff and Buddy Gaudet; pitchers Jimmy Tillette, Dale Burch, and Mike Malinowski; infielders Andy Williams, Charles Bordes, Ray Pallazola, Jim Shay, and Rudy Kael; and outfielders Pete Schwalb, Tom Ingrassia, Terry Devine, Guy Faulstitch; and batting practice pitcher and catcher Terry Fitzmorris. Assisting Simms as a coaches were Jerry Brady and Monk Milazzo.   Simms died in 2020 at age 91.

 Members of the 1979 Babe Ruth League Executive Headquarters Staff:  Richard W. Case, President; George C. Riemann, Vice President/Treasurer; Jeanne B. Layton, Corporate Secretary; and Ron Tellefsen, Commissioner.

Me And Ron Host Family Reunion Hail To The Chief
1979 - The late BRL President/CEO Ron Tellefsen is shown giving dictation to his Administrative Assistant Theresa Caprio Cleary.  At the time of this photo, Ron was serving as Commissioner. Host Family Reunion.  (L-R) Mr. and Mrs. John Peel, former Baltimore Oriole great Scott McGregor, and Deb Briseno were reunited after 27 years.  The Peels were McGregor's host family during the 1969 World Series in Mattoon, Illinois.  The Peel's surprised McGregor at  the banquet during the 1994 Bambino World Series held in Henderson, Kentucky.  McGregor was the guest speaker. Hail to the New Chief. Ron Tellefsen (lower right) was honored by some of his friends for his recent selection as the President/CEO of Babe Ruth League, Inc.  Pictured (left to right):  former National League umpire Tom Gorman, American League umpire Al Clark, BRL Goodwill Ambassador Bill Frazier, and Bill Rick (who is a former Vice President for BRL).

Brooks Robinson With Players Bubble Gum Contest Former Dodger Player
Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson in attendance at the 1977 Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series in Newark, Ohio, where he greeted players and fans, well as conducted an afternoon baseball clinic.  He is shown sharing a few stories with members of the Frederick, Maryland team, Derik Shackelford (left) and Jy Wastler (right). Todd Curran of West Linn, Oregon tries for a record bubble in the BUBBLICIOUS Bubble Gum Blowing Contest as part of the1990 Bambino World Series festivities in Longview, Washington. Former Dodger player John Roseboro relays some of the finer points of catching to players in the South Torrance, California Babe Ruth League during a clinic, the leagues third consecutive instruction seminar.

Alvin Giroir La Sorda Lightened Rob And Etc
2003 - Back row (left to right): Jackson, Louisiana Babe Ruth League Coach Jeff Travis and Louisiana State Commissioner Alvin Giror with Louisiana State Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old State Tournament MVP Hunter Travis. Former Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda (right) greets Angelo Fanara, manager of the Italian invitational team participating in the 2001 Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series held in Hamilton Township, NJ, the birthplace of Babe Ruth League.  LaSorda was the guest speaker at the World Series Banquet. 2007 - Pictured above (left to right):  the late Don Rose, Sr., Virginia State Commissioner; Rob Connor, BRL Commissioner (now serves as Vice President/Operations); and Steven (Spike) Hupka, Tennessee State Commissioner (now serves as a BRL Board Member) attend Southeast Regional Workshop to promote Babe Ruth Softball.

Claire Sharpened Cal Ron Bill Smith HQ Staff With Jimmy Stewart And Bob
Back Row (l to r):  Board Member Bob Curran and Commissioner Ron Tellefsen (who went on to serve as President/CEO).  Front Row (l to r):  BRL President Richard Case and Mrs. Claire Ruth.   Pictured above (left to right):  Bill Smith, BRL Chairman of the Board; Cal Ripken, Jr.; Bob Curran, Bob Chairman, Board Member/BRL Executive Consultant; and Ron Tellefsen, BRL President/CEO. Opening of the Vallejo, California Office.  Back row (l to r):  BRL Commissioner Robert Faherty (now serves as Sr. VP-Commissioner); Vice President/CFO Rosemary Schoellkopf; Buster "The Babe" Lookalike; Controller, Donna Mahoney; and Commissioner Jimmy Stewart.  Front row (l to r):  Marketing Manager Joe Smiegocki (who went on to serve as VP/Marketing & Operations); President/CEO Ron Tellefsen; and Commissioner Bob Hemond.

Leonard Sharpened Jim Lefevbre Gord In Alumni Tent
Board Member Leonard Hammer presents Tyler Beal with the 2009 Batting Champion Award. Former Dodger Jim Lefebvre addresses the attendees at the 2011 Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series Breakfast of Champions in Ephrata, Washington.  Jim Lefebvre, a name synonmous with the Los Angdeles Dodgers" 1965 World Series title run, lead a full baseball career of playing, coaching, and managing, as well as promoting baseball around the globe. The late Gord Welbourne, BRL Board Member, mans the Alumni Tent at the 2016 Babe Ruth World Series.

Evelyn Induction In To HOF Bambino Beanie Bear Steven - Grace - Anthony
2019 - Middle Atlantic Assistant Regional Commissioner, Evelyn Skiendziel, was officially inducted into the BRL Hall of Fame at a location appropriate for BRL Royalty - the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, New York.  Pictured (l-r):  Cooperstown Sales Manager June Dolhun, Evelyn, husband Vic, (former) Middle Atlantic Regional Commissioner Al Solanik, and BRL Sr. VP/Commissioner Robert Faherty. Bambino Beanie Bear - The Official Mascot celebrating Babe Ruth League's 50th Anniversary. 2016 - BRL President-CEO presents Service Rep Grace Paglione and Mailroom Coordinator Anthony Chell with special awards in honor of 35 and 15 years of service, respectively.

Vincennes Cub League Fern Creek SB Spokane WA
Vincennes (Indiana) Cub Babe Ruth League - First Signup in 1958. 1998 Fern Creek (Kentucky) Babe Ruth Softball All-Star Team. 2015 - Spokane (Washington) Babe Ruth League Team of the Week "Creepers" post for a picture.

Robert Don Edwards And Rosemary Rosemary Marg Sharon Lamont And Chery Pettibone Stamford CT - 1971 Tournament Of Champion Champions

Don Edwards Visits Babe Ruth Headquarters - The late Don Edwards (pictured center) of Newark, Ohio, was involved with Babe Ruth League for 45+ years, serving as a manager, League President, and State Commissioner.  Under Edwards’ direction as Host President, Newark, Ohio, hosted its first Babe Ruth World Series in 1977.  He continued to serve as Host President for eight additional Babe Ruth World Series held in Newark, Ohio.  Edwards was inducted into the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame in 1997 and was the recipient of the honorable "Lefty" Gomez Volunteer of the Year Award.  Also pictured above (left) is BRL Sr. Vice President/Comissioner Robert Faherty and retired BRL Executive Vice President/CFO Rosemary Schoellkopf.

 All Smiles at the Babe Ruth World Series (l-r):  Retired Executive Vice President/CFO Rosemary Schoellkopf; former BRL CPA Sharon Lamont; Babe Ruth Headquarters Service Rep Marg Kendra; and retired K&K Insurance Representative Cheryl Pettibone pose with Cowboy Gene (a realistic looking wax figure). The late Ron Tellefsen presents the championship trophy to Stamford, Connecticut during the closing ceremonies of the 1971 Tournament of Champions.

BRL Collage
The Babe Ruth League Experience - Enjoyed by Millions

Feel free to share photos of your favorite Babe Ruth League experiences by emailing them to theresa@baberuthleague.org