He was the biggest thing on the planet. Honestly, it’s hard to even wrap your head around how famous Babe Ruth was in 1920s New York. He wasn't just a baseball player; he was a walking, talking earthquake. And while everyone knows he built "The House that Ruth Built" in the Bronx, way fewer people realize where the "Sultan of Swat" actually went to sleep—or, more accurately, where he threw the legendary parties that kept the neighbors awake.
If you’re looking for babe ruths apartment nyc, you aren't just looking for one address. The guy moved around. He had a thing for the Upper West Side, a neighborhood that, back then, was the perfect mix of flashy and functional. From the marble halls of the Ansonia to the quiet, leafy stretch of Riverside Drive, the Babe left a trail of cigar smoke and oversized furniture all across Manhattan.
The Ansonia: Where the Chaos Began
When Ruth first landed in New York after being sold by the Red Sox (sorry, Boston), he didn't buy a house. He moved into the Ansonia Hotel at 2109 Broadway.
This place was wild.
The Ansonia was basically a vertical village with soundproof walls—allegedly four feet thick—which was lucky because Ruth was not exactly a "quiet night in" kind of guy. He lived here from 1920 to 1929. Imagine the hallways of this Beaux-Arts masterpiece filled with teammates, starlets, and the general riff-raff of the Jazz Age. The Ansonia even had a farm on the roof at one point, though by the time the Babe arrived, that had been shut down.
He lived here with his first wife, Helen. It was his bachelor-pad-away-from-home, even when he wasn't technically a bachelor. But as the 20s roared on and his life changed, he needed something a bit more... domestic.
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345 West 88th Street: The Family Years
In 1929, Ruth married his second wife, Claire Hodgson. They needed space. They ended up at 345 West 88th Street.
This wasn't just a "unit." Back then, the Ruths occupied the entire seventh floor. We’re talking 11 or 12 rooms. Total luxury.
His daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, used to talk about how she and her father would sit by the radio and listen to The Green Hornet while looking out at Riverside Park. It’s a strangely human image for a guy who felt like a Greek god to most of America.
- The Vibe: Neo-Renaissance elegance.
- The Size: Massive.
- The Location: Just steps from the park where he could occasionally be seen walking his dog.
Fast forward to today, and that massive floor has been split up. Recently, Unit 7B hit the market for about $1.5 million. It’s a three-bedroom now, but it still has the original oak floors that the Babe once walked on. Interestingly, the famous gymnast Olivia Dunne reportedly tried to buy it recently, but the co-op board—in classic, picky NYC fashion—rejected the bid after she posted about it on social media.
Even 70 years after his death, the Babe's old living room is still causing a stir.
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110 Riverside Drive: The Final Inning
Eventually, the family moved even closer to the water. The final babe ruths apartment nyc was at 110 Riverside Drive, specifically Apartment 11HL.
He moved here in 1942 and stayed until he passed away in 1948. This is where the legend grew old. There are stories from neighbors who lived there as kids, remembering the uniformed elevator operators literally carrying a "tired" (read: probably had a few too many) Ruth and his wife Claire up to their floor after a night out.
He was often seen wearing a heavy camel-hair coat, leaning against the limestone of the building. By this time, the "Sultan" was waiting for a phone call that never really came—a call to manage a Major League team.
There’s a small, almost too-small plaque on the side of the building on the 83rd Street side. If you aren't looking for it, you’ll walk right past it. It’s a quiet tribute to the man who basically invented the modern sports superstar.
Why These Addresses Still Matter
People are obsessed with these apartments because they represent the "real" Ruth. Not the guy on the baseball card, but the guy who had to deal with co-op boards (sorta), noisy neighbors, and the view of the Hudson River.
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If you’re a history buff or a Yankees fanatic, you can actually do a "Ruth Tour" of the Upper West Side:
- Start at the Ansonia (73rd & Broadway): Look up at the balconies and imagine the Babe tossing coins down to kids on the street.
- Walk up to 110 Riverside (83rd St): Find that tiny plaque. It’s humbling.
- Finish at 345 West 88th Street: This is where he was at the peak of his power.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're actually thinking about trying to live in a "Ruth building," keep a few things in mind. These are co-ops, not condos. That means you don't just need the money; you need a board to like you. Don't do what Olivia Dunne did—keep your Instagram on private until the keys are in your hand.
Also, Riverside Drive is iconic, but it’s windy. The "Babe Ruth" breeze off the Hudson is real.
Most of these buildings are landmarked, so don't expect to go in and tear down walls to make an open-concept loft. You’re buying a piece of history, and the city wants you to keep it that way.
The Upper West Side hasn't changed that much since the 40s. The trees are bigger, the cars are quieter, but the shadows of the great ones still haunt those pre-war lobbies. If you want to find the soul of the Yankees, it isn't in the new stadium. It's on a quiet corner of 88th Street.