WASHINGTON 鈥� Babe Ruth was a man with many names 鈥� 鈥淏ig Bam,鈥� 鈥淭he Great Bambino鈥� and the 鈥淪ultan of Swat,鈥� to name a few 鈥� and a new exhibit at Smithsonian鈥檚 National Portrait Gallery is showcasing just as many elements of the baseball legend鈥檚 life.
The Baltimore-born lefty is the focus of a 32-item exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery called It鈥檚 a quick glimpse into Ruth鈥檚 life through portraiture, said James Barber, historian at the Portrait Gallery and curator of the exhibition.
鈥淲e look at the life of this incredible person,鈥� Barber said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 like classic literature, a good book, which never goes out of print 鈥� there鈥檚 always an audience for.鈥�
Of the more than 30 objects, 11 are portraits and caricatures from the Smithsonian鈥檚 collection. The rest of the collection is made up of borrowed memorabilia from places such as Ruth鈥檚 birthplace in Baltimore.
Also featured are some of the products The Caliph of Clout put his name behind.
鈥淲e look at Babe Ruth鈥檚 marketability 鈥� the products that Babe Ruth endorsed: Babe Ruth underwear, Babe Ruth chocolate,鈥� Barber said, adding Ruth backed things from cigars to cereal too.
Ruth may have died nearly 68 years ago, but he is still an appropriate icon to be featured in the exhibit because he 鈥渟till resonates with the American public,鈥� Barber said.
鈥淓very day there is a youngster out there who is discovering Babe Ruth for the first time,” Barber said.
The exhibition opens June 24 and runs through May 21, 2017.
If you go:
Where: National Portrait Gallery,聽8th and F Streets NW聽Washington, D.C. 20001
When:聽The museum is open from聽11:30 a.m. 鈥� 7 p.m. daily
Cost: free
草莓传媒鈥檚 Rachel Nania contributed to this report.
