Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • - Innovation & Tech
    • Collections
      • Open Access
      • Snapshot
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • STEAM Learning Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • Office of Equal Opportunity
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Programs
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Babe Ruth

National Portrait Gallery

Object Details

Artist
William Auerbach-Levy, 1889 - 1964
Sitter
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, 6 Feb 1895 - 17 Aug 1948
Exhibition Label
In this caricature by William Auerbach-Levy, whose drawings appeared in newspapers and magazines like The New Yorker, Esquire, and Collier’s, the trademark pinstripes on Babe Ruth’s jersey and pants were an accurate depiction of the Yankees uniform. Even the artist’s exaggeration of Ruth’s top-heavy physique was a credible depiction of the slugger, who stood six feet, two inches and weighed approximately 210 pounds at his ideal weight (which he rarely maintained). While Ruth’s spindly legs were vulnerable to soreness and injury, especially in his later years as a player, he had enough upper-body strength to keep hitting home runs into the stands until his retirement at age forty.
En esta caricatura de William Auerbach-Levy, cuyos dibujos se publicaban en periódicos y revistas como The New Yorker, Esquire y Collier’s, las típicas rayas de la camiseta y los pantalones de Babe Ruth imitan con precisión el uniforme de los Yankees. Incluso resulta creíble que el artista exagere las amplias proporciones de la parte superior del cuerpo, pues el bateador medía seis pies dos pulgadas y pesaba unas 210 libras en su punto ideal (que rara vez mantenía). Si bien sus piernas delgaduchas lo hacían propenso a dolores y lesiones, sobre todo en sus últimos años de carrera, la fuerza de su tronco le bastó para seguir enviando jonrones a las gradas hasta los cuarenta años, cuando se retiró.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
c. 1929
Object number
NPG.89.99
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Drawing
Medium
Gouache, graphite and ink on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 28 × 21.7 cm (11 × 8 9/16")
Mount: 30.5 × 22.2 cm (12 × 8 3/4")
Mat: 45.7 x 35.6 cm (18 x 14")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth: Male
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth: Sports\Athlete\Baseball
Portrait
Record ID
npg_NPG.89.99
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4d01bb9ab-5d1e-42f6-a8a7-7e368eda68d3

Related Content

  • Take Me out to the Ball Game

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top