Babe's Saloon, Privy Unearthed In Outfield -- Artifacts Found At New Stadium Site

BALTIMORE - Archaeologists at the site of the Baltimore Orioles' new stadium announced they have found the remains of the saloon where baseball great Babe Ruth and his family lived and worked from 1906 to 1912.

The saloon's foundation walls and back-yard privy have been unearthed, as predicted, at a spot where short center field will be when the $105.4 million stadium opens for the 1992 baseball season.

A few artifacts, including a door knocker, some bone, glass and ceramic fragments, already have been found.

But the real search for artifacts from the period of the Ruths' residence will now focus on the remains of a two-seat privy found in the back yard.

Privies are valuable to archaeologists because people often threw broken household items and trash into them, preserving a record of their possessions, their wealth and eating habits.

An official said any artifacts found at the site will be turned over to the Babe Ruth Museum.

When news of the building's discovery about 10 days ago was passed along to Ruth's sister, Mary ``Mamie'' Ruth Moberly, of Hagerstown, Md., ``we made a 90-year-old lady very happy,'' said Christopher Goodwin.

George Herman Ruth Sr., his wife, Kate, and their two children lived above the saloon from 1906 to 1912. Babe was 11 when the family moved in, but because of his chronic truancy, he was sent away to school and spent little time in the family's quarters above the saloon.