About
Babe Ruth League is a baseball and softball program named after George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The program includes baseball divisions and softball divisions, as well as specialized formats such as Xtreme Fastpitch and the Bambino Buddy-Ball Division where a “buddy” helps the player swing a bat, round the bases, and catch a ball.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Babe Ruth League, Inc. is described as a non-profit, educational organization. The program includes Cal Ripken Baseball for ages 4–12, Babe Ruth Baseball for ages 13–18, and Babe Ruth Softball for players 4 to 18 years of age. The Bambino Buddy-Ball Division serves players ages 5–20 who are physically and/or mentally challenged, with assistance from a “buddy” during play. Babe Ruth League, Inc. recognizes Marius D. Bonacci as the Founding Father of the program, along with Samuel M. Welch, Ferdinand J. Wagner, Ed Jones, Ted Jasek, Cliff Fovour, Boots Snyder, William Dombrowski, Maskill Paxson, and Willard Carson, Jr. A 16-member full-time staff, assisted by seasonal employees, maintains Babe Ruth’s International Headquarters, and a 17-member International Board serves as the governing body.
The program began in 1951 with a 13–15 baseball division, added the 16–18 division in 1966, the 13-Year-Old Prep League in 1974, and the Bambino division for ages 4–12 in 1982, which was renamed “Cal Ripken Baseball, a Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc.” on July 6, 1999. Babe Ruth Softball was added in 1984, the Buddy-Ball Division was renamed the Bambino BuddyBall Division in 2000, and Xtreme Fastpitch was added in 2013. Babe Ruth League, Inc. states that every volunteer from the local league manager to the chairman of the International Board is dedicated to the betterment of youth, while at the same time producing better baseball and softball players. The softball program is described as focusing on all ability levels of young female athletes and providing them with the same athletic experience as the baseball divisions.
Babe Ruth League, Inc. has grown to well over one million players on more than 60,000 teams in over 11,000 leagues, with over 1.9 million volunteers. The organization offers a tournament trail in which a tournament team from each chartered local league can enter its district tournament, with winners advancing to statewide competition, then regional tournaments, and World Series involving teams from across the United States and Canada. Babe Ruth League, Inc. has seven baseball and five softball World Series, including Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old, Cal Ripken Major/60, Cal Ripken Major/70, 13-Year-Old, 14-Year-Old, 13–15, 16–18, Softball 8U, Softball 10U, Softball 12U, Softball 14U, and Softball 16U World Series. The organization describes its tournament trail as unparalleled and prestigious. Local leagues are described as independent within guidelines and operating with simplicity and autonomy, with the Babe Ruth International Board as the governing body and Babe Ruth League International Headquarters as the administrative and promotional center.
Last updated July 16, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Babe Ruth League, Inc. is described as a non-profit, educational organization. The program includes Cal Ripken Baseball for ages 4–12, Babe Ruth Baseball for ages 13–18, and Babe Ruth Softball for players 4 to 18 years of age. The Bambino Buddy-Ball Division serves players ages 5–20 who are physically and/or mentally challenged, with assistance from a “buddy” during play. Babe Ruth League, Inc. recognizes Marius D. Bonacci as the Founding Father of the program, along with Samuel M. Welch, Ferdinand J. Wagner, Ed Jones, Ted Jasek, Cliff Fovour, Boots Snyder, William Dombrowski, Maskill Paxson, and Willard Carson, Jr. A 16-member full-time staff, assisted by seasonal employees, maintains Babe Ruth’s International Headquarters, and a 17-member International Board serves as the governing body.
The program began in 1951 with a 13–15 baseball division, added the 16–18 division in 1966, the 13-Year-Old Prep League in 1974, and the Bambino division for ages 4–12 in 1982, which was renamed “Cal Ripken Baseball, a Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc.” on July 6, 1999. Babe Ruth Softball was added in 1984, the Buddy-Ball Division was renamed the Bambino BuddyBall Division in 2000, and Xtreme Fastpitch was added in 2013. Babe Ruth League, Inc. states that every volunteer from the local league manager to the chairman of the International Board is dedicated to the betterment of youth, while at the same time producing better baseball and softball players. The softball program is described as focusing on all ability levels of young female athletes and providing them with the same athletic experience as the baseball divisions.
Babe Ruth League, Inc. has grown to well over one million players on more than 60,000 teams in over 11,000 leagues, with over 1.9 million volunteers. The organization offers a tournament trail in which a tournament team from each chartered local league can enter its district tournament, with winners advancing to statewide competition, then regional tournaments, and World Series involving teams from across the United States and Canada. Babe Ruth League, Inc. has seven baseball and five softball World Series, including Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old, Cal Ripken Major/60, Cal Ripken Major/70, 13-Year-Old, 14-Year-Old, 13–15, 16–18, Softball 8U, Softball 10U, Softball 12U, Softball 14U, and Softball 16U World Series. The organization describes its tournament trail as unparalleled and prestigious. Local leagues are described as independent within guidelines and operating with simplicity and autonomy, with the Babe Ruth International Board as the governing body and Babe Ruth League International Headquarters as the administrative and promotional center.
Last updated July 16, 2026.
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