Julia Ruth Stevens (1916–2019)

Babe Ruth, by Julia Ruth Stevens and Bill Gilbert, is more of a tribute to Ruth than a biography and succeeds largely because the reflections are from his daughter rather than a journalist. The personal nature makes it a more touching read, and the many photographs make it fun for the baseball fan.

I don't want to overstate the personal element, all of the stories that helped build his legend are here. I think what is added is the perspective of those events from the private side rather than show more strictly the public side.

I have read several of these coffee table type books lately that have replica removable pieces of memorabilia, which I think is a nice touch. If you're a big Ruth fan, or simply like to have sports items on display, you can hang these in a frame(s) or box on the wall with the book also on display. Maybe not in your living room, but a den or rec room (do people still call them rec rooms? Sorry, I'm old!).

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. show less