Dorothy Ruth

Who was Dorothy Ruth?

Dorothy Helen Ruth Pirone was the daughter of Babe Ruth and his mistress Juanita Jennings. Dorothy was born June 7, 1921 in New York City, at St. Vincent's Hospital, and lived with Babe and his first wife Helen. Helen and Babe Ruth separated some time between 1924–1926. Dorothy lived with her adoptive mother Helen after that. Babe and Helen Ruth did not divorce because of their religious beliefs. It is documented that Dorothy was raised to believe Helen was her real mother. It is speculated that Helen did not know that Dorothy was the result of an adulterous relationship between Babe and his girlfriend. It may have been the case that when Babe Ruth learned of his mistress's pregnancy, he convinced Helen, unaware that Babe was the father, to adopt the baby girl. Babe Ruth also somehow convinced Dorothy's biological mother to give up the baby for adoption to a possibly unknowing Helen.

In January 1929, when she was 7 years old, her adoptive mother Helen died in a house fire. After Helen's death, Dorothy lived with her father Babe Ruth and Claire Hodgson Ruth whom he married in April 1929.

Dorothy learned at the age of 59 in 1980 that Juanita Jennings was her real mother.