SARASOTA BABE RUTH
2026 Spring Season is Underway
Rosters with high school players are currently full, but we are accepting registration forms for a waiting list.
Rosters that don’t have high school players still have a few available roster spots. For information about these spots, please contact President Todd Williams at todderock2003@yahoo.com.
A registration form is available to download here, as well as the Babe Ruth League Bat Rules.
Sarasota Babe Ruth is hosting a fundraising Golf Tournament on May 2, 2026. A flyer with information about the tournament, including how to enter a foursome and/or arrange for a hole sponsor sign, can be found here.
Sarasota Babe Ruth will be hosting the Florida Babe Ruth South State Tournaments for all three Age Groups (13U, 14U, and 13-16) June 25-28. Teams participating in the South State Tournament are to stay at one of our contracted hotels. Please use this booking link in order to book hotels with tournament rates.
Additional tournament information will be posted here when it is available.
If you know of anyone interested in Coaching during the 2026 Spring Season, please have them contact Sarasota Babe Ruth League President Todd Williams via email at todderock2003@yahoo.com.
Carl Luer, Secretary
Sarasota Babe Ruth League, Inc.
caluer@mote.org
2025 Season Highlights
About
Babe Ruth League Baseball operates four fields at 185 South Pompano Avenue, just south of the Boys and Girls Club, and across the street from Robarts Arena. Seasons are conducted every fall (beginning in October) and spring (beginning in February).
Founded in 1951, the Babe Ruth Baseball League was initially created for ballplayers ages 13-15 who wished to continue their baseball playing experience beyond the age of 12.
This is where players get their baseball cleats muddy for the first time on standard 90-foot diamonds under Official Baseball Rules used by Major League Baseball. In this division, teams are eligible to enter tournament competition and advance through the tournament, culminating in a World Series.
Three World Series are held in this division: one for 13-year-old players, one for 13 and 14-year-old players, and the renowned 13-16 World Series. 13-Year-Old Prep Players often express a fear of competing with 14 to 16-Year-Old players who have already experienced one or two years playing on a standard 90′ diamond.
Babe Ruth League introduced this prep league, comprised of teams with only 13-year-old players, to foster more participation in the game for this age group. This league offers the 13-year-old player the assurance to play without age intimidation and the chance to participate in the 13-Year-Old World Series.
History of the League
Sarasota Babe Ruth has a long and storied history, and has even helped coach and train several future Major League ballplayers. Babe Ruth League Baseball started in Sarasota in 1955 with four teams of 14-15-year-olds. Games were played at Payne Park and Fruitville Park.
About 50 boys participated in the program. In 1973, a group of men led by Woody Hodges acquired the property now used by Sarasota Babe Ruth Baseball, Inc., on Pompano Road, and one field (now Field 1) was built.
By then, the league had expanded to six 14-15-year-old teams with 80 boys participating. In 1975, the Prep League (13-year-olds), with four teams, was created. This expansion led to the building of a second field (now Field 2). In 1977, a Senior League (16-18-year-olds), also with four teams, was formed. By the end of the 1983 season, the league’s growth required another field, leading to the construction of a third field (now Field 3), designed as a Prep League field.
By 1998, more expansion was needed, and a fourth field (now Field 4) was built for the 1999 season. The league has continued to grow in popularity and success over the past 20 years.
League Honors
In 1985, the Sarasota Senior League All-Star team, with Manager Tom Lucas, won the Babe Ruth League World Series in Fredrick, MD. In 1988, the Sarasota Babe Ruth Prep League All-Stars, managed by Bob Dean, won the Babe Ruth World Series in Vallejo, CA. In 1999, the Sarasota 15U All-Star team, with Manager Steve Hardee, won the Babe Ruth League World Series in Abbeville, LA.
Over the many years since, we have been fortunate to see our teams advance both at the state and national levels. Take a trip down memory lane with some of our league highlights…
