BABE RUTH'S DAUGHTER, JULIA RUTH STEVENS, REPRESENTS THE TED WILLIAMS MUSEUM
AT THE KICKOFF OF THE 2008 EASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME IN MANCHESTER, NH
Manchester ... The NH Fisher Cats hosted a sellout crowd at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium on Wednesday, July 16th, as future stars from the NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and many more, put on a show with a home run contest and a 9-inning All-Star Game. But the star of the evening was Julia Ruth Stevens, who turned 92 years young and signed autographs for players and fans alike at the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame Satellite Museum, located behind home plate on the main concourse at Merchants.com Stadium. (Taken in 1929, the photo to the left shows Julia on the right, and Julia's mother on the left.) She was joined by Red Sox Legend Bill "Spaceman Lee" and NH Governor John Lynch.
Ruth told the Manchester Union Leader that she had made her last visit to Yankee Stadium, "The House That Ruth Built," a few weeks ago to present Alex Rodriguez with a home run award. "They (the Yankees) were very kind to me even though they know I'm a Red Sox fan." Years of living in North Conway, NH, and watching the Red Sox on local TV have made her a true Boston fan. Her favorite player? Jonathan Papelbon. When told Jonathan's dad, John Papelbon, was the Deputy Director of the Ted Williams Museum, she requested, and was given, a Jonathan Papelbon signed baseball for her collection. Best of all, she had many fond memories of Ted Williams and her father's admiration for the Boston Slugger.
This was the first All-Star Game the Ted Williams Museum has co-hosted, and the standing room only crowd filled the Museum all evening.
The Museum will be hosting several more player appearances at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium, Fenway Park, and Tropicana Field during August and September, so please check back for more updates in the near future.