1. 20 Apr


    Babe Ruth and Other Red Sox Pitchers, 1915 Baseball season is here. This week’s Smithsonian Snapshot celebrates the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, with this 1915 photograph of Babe Ruth and other Red Sox pitchers: George “Rube” Foster, Carl Mays, Ernie Shore and Hubert “Dutch” Leonard. On April 20, 1912, the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox opened to the public in Boston. The Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders, renamed the New York Yankees in 1913, 7-6 in 11 innings. Newspaper coverage of the opening was overshadowed by continuing coverage of the Titanic sinking days earlier April 14, 1912. In 1914, the Red Sox acquired George Herman Ruth Jr., best known as “Babe” Ruth, as their all-star pitcher. This 1915 photo shows Ruth with the pitching staff that helped propel the Red Sox to a World Series Championship the same year. This photo marks Ruth’s second season in the major leagues. In six seasons as a pitcher, the 24-year-old Ruth compiled an 89-46 won-lost record, with a 2.28 ERA and three World Series victories. Had he continued to pitch he would have ranked among baseball’s greatest pitchers. This is a rare photograph of Ruth in the beginning of his career; it helps the Smithsonian fully describe the impact of this legendary baseball player. To view more sports-related items at the Smithsonian, visit the National Museum of American History’s sports and leisure collection. This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is not on display. To learn more about this item, visit the National Portrait Gallery’s website.

    Babe Ruth and Other Red Sox Pitchers, 1915

    Baseball season is here. This week’s Smithsonian Snapshot celebrates the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, with this 1915 photograph of Babe Ruth and other Red Sox pitchers: George “Rube” Foster, Carl Mays, Ernie Shore and Hubert “Dutch” Leonard.

    On April 20, 1912, the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox opened to the public in Boston. The Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders, renamed the New York Yankees in 1913, 7-6 in 11 innings. Newspaper coverage of the opening was overshadowed by continuing coverage of the Titanic sinking days earlier April 14, 1912.

    In 1914, the Red Sox acquired George Herman Ruth Jr., best known as “Babe” Ruth, as their all-star pitcher. This 1915 photo shows Ruth with the pitching staff that helped propel the Red Sox to a World Series Championship the same year. This photo marks Ruth’s second season in the major leagues.

    In six seasons as a pitcher, the 24-year-old Ruth compiled an 89-46 won-lost record, with a 2.28 ERA and three World Series victories. Had he continued to pitch he would have ranked among baseball’s greatest pitchers.

    This is a rare photograph of Ruth in the beginning of his career; it helps the Smithsonian fully describe the impact of this legendary baseball player.

    To view more sports-related items at the Smithsonian, visit the National Museum of American History’s sports and leisure collection.

    This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is not on display. To learn more about this item, visit the National Portrait Gallery’s website.

     

  2. 9 Feb


    The Beatles’ First Appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” 1964  On Feb. 9, 1964, The Beatles made their first live U.S. television appearance. More than 70 million Americans gathered around their televisions to watch four young men from Liverpool make history.  Ed Sullivan, the “king of Sunday night television,” booked The Beatles for three appearances after seeing the response of fans during a visit to London. Before their debut on the show, The Beatles’ record “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was leaked to radio stations across the country. By Jan. 10, 1964, the album had sold more than 1 million units and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the No. 1 song on the Billboard charts. Taken during the rehearsal for The Beatles’ live U.S. television debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” this photograph captures the Fab Four on the eve of a landmark moment in American pop culture history. Following the appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the phenomenon of Beatlemania swept the country. John, Paul, George and Ringo secured their place in American hearts and spurred an invasion of British rock ’n’ roll that altered the face of popular music in the U.S. This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is not currently on display. For more info, visit.

    The Beatles’ First Appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” 1964

     On Feb. 9, 1964, The Beatles made their first live U.S. television appearance. More than 70 million Americans gathered around their televisions to watch four young men from Liverpool make history. 

    Ed Sullivan, the “king of Sunday night television,” booked The Beatles for three appearances after seeing the response of fans during a visit to London. Before their debut on the show, The Beatles’ record “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was leaked to radio stations across the country. By Jan. 10, 1964, the album had sold more than 1 million units and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the No. 1 song on the Billboard charts.

    Taken during the rehearsal for The Beatles’ live U.S. television debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” this photograph captures the Fab Four on the eve of a landmark moment in American pop culture history.

    Following the appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the phenomenon of Beatlemania swept the country. John, Paul, George and Ringo secured their place in American hearts and spurred an invasion of British rock ’n’ roll that altered the face of popular music in the U.S.

    This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is not currently on display.

    For more info, visit.

     

  3. 19 Dec


    “This time of year, visitors to the National Portrait Gallery often ask our docents, “Where is your portrait of Santa?” Although the question might sound like a simple one, the answer is actually complex.”  (via National Portrait Gallery | Face to Face blog: A Portrait of Santa?)

    “This time of year, visitors to the National Portrait Gallery often ask our docents, “Where is your portrait of Santa?” Although the question might sound like a simple one, the answer is actually complex.” 

    (via National Portrait Gallery | Face to Face blog: A Portrait of Santa?)