For years the story has been that the Baby Ruth candy bar has never had a relation to Babe Ruth — it was actually named after the eldest daughter of US President Grover Cleveland in the early 20th century, whose name was Ruth, affectionally called “Baby Ruth”.
I grew up thinking this.
The advent of the internet changed things. We now know that is most likely BS — the makers of the candy bar named it Baby Ruth to capitalize on Babe Ruth‘s fame without having to pay him royalties.
Ruth was burned by those candy-bar makers, and the courts, and now 100 years later, has probably been rolling in his grave as the owners of Baby Ruth have been using its brand to sponsor Yankee events the last few years to make money off it again.
In short:
1. “Kandy Kake” Renamed “Baby Ruth” in 1921 After Ruth’s Rise
Babe Ruth as everyone knows, was a terrific pitcher and hitter in the 1910’s. Playing for the Red Sox, he led the league in HR’s with 11 in 1918, and then really started swinging for the fences and re-invented the game — hitting 27 HR’s for the Red Sox in 1919.
He was then traded to the Yankees, where he really went to town with 54 HR’s in 1920 — becoming a global celebrity athlete and hero. He was most famous man on the planet; every kid looked up to him.
In 1920, Otto Schnering, founder and owner of the Curtiss Candy Company, renamed its Kandy Kake candy bar to Baby Ruth. The candy bar quickly became the best-selling candy bar because kids all over the US thought it was Babe Ruth’s candy bar.
2. Curtiss Took Advantage of Babe Ruth’s Ties to Sports
Otto Schnering used the Baby Ruth brand and its ties to Babe Ruth to market the candy bar at baseball games. This was before trademark law was a thing. The bar was promoted as being a sports energy bar — full of protein and a meal within itself.
Starting in 1923, Schnering had airplanes drop Baby Ruth (and Butterfinger) candy bars tied to mini parachutes close to ballparks.
The parachute-drop marketing was such a success that Schering expanded the campaign and called it the Baby Ruth Flying Circus. It crisscrossed 40 states, dropping his candy bars near ballparks.
In 1929, the Curtiss Candy Company sponsored a radio program on CBS called “The Baby Ruth Hour.”
3. Curtis Sued Ruth — and Won!
Now the kicker — in 1926, Babe Ruth — pissed that his name was being used for the #1 best selling candy bar in the country and he was getting no royalties from it — entered the candy business himself, licensing his name to the George H. Ruth Candy Company, and came out with a candy bar called “Ruth’s Home Run Candy.”
The Curtiss Candy Company sued for copyright infringement and claimed that the candy bar had not been named after the baseball star, but was named after President Grover Cleveland’s eldest daughter, Ruth Cleveland.
Grover Cleveland’s Daughter Ruth Died 16 Years Earlier
The defense didn’t make sense — as Grover Cleveland was not the President at the time — he served 2 terms as US President — from 1885-1889 and from 1893-1897. Further, Ruth Cleveland was born in 1891 and sadly died at age 12 due to diphtheria in 1904. Why on earth would someone name a candy bar after a girl who died — at age 12 — 16 years earlier to a former President. And Ruth was not well known in her day.
But in the case of George H. Ruth Candy Co. v. Curtiss Candy Co. — the patent court ruled in 1931 that Babe Ruth the ballplayer was trying to cash in on his nickname and profit from the similarity of his name to that of the popular candy bar!!!!!!
The ruling prevented Babe Ruth from using his own name in his own candy bar !!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Insult to Injury Continued into the 1960’s
Curtiss Company had no shame — they continued to market the Baby Ruth candy bar as if it was Babe Ruth’s candy bar.
In 1933 the Curtiss Candy Company took advantage of Ruth famously calling his homerun at Wrigley Field during the 1932 World Series by erecting an illuminated advertisement for the Baby Ruth candy bar on a rooftop beyond the Wrigley’s center field wall that stood for decades. Motherf’ers.
5. Insult to Ruth Continued in 2006-2009 — Aided by MLB
Curtiss Candy Company was purchased by Standard Brands in 1964, which itself merged with Nabisco in 1981. In 1990, Nabisco sold the Curtiss brands to Nestlé.
Baby Ruth Was Official Candy Bar of MLB from 2006-2009
Fast forward to 2006, when Nestlé USA’s Baby Ruth became the Official Candy Bar of Major League Baseball through a three-year exclusive sponsorship agreement with MLB Properties.
6. Baby Ruth Official Sponsor of NY Yankees from 2022-2025!
The Nestle USA confectionery brands — including Baby Ruth — were acquired by Ferrero in 2018.
Ferrero folded production of the acquired brands into the Ferrara Candy Company and relaunched Baby Ruth in December 2019.
Ferraro Baby Ruth Used to Sponsor NY Yankees Starting in 2023
Fast forward to 2023, when Ferrara began signing yearly exclusive agreements with the Yankees to sponsor Yankee Stadium events and giveaways using the Baby Ruth brand!
“Baby Ruth is a timeless American classic and we’re excited to have it available for our guests at Yankee Stadium in 2023,” said Yankees Senior Vice President of Strategic Ventures Marty Greenspun in 2023. “It was also great to work with the Baby Ruth team on creating our new Baby Ruth milkshake, which is the perfect addition to our menu as we head into the summer.”
Events included Fireworks Night at Yankee Stadium in 2023:
Take me out to the ball game this Fourth of July holiday! Join us as Baby Ruth presents the post-game fireworks show at @Yankee Stadium. Indulge in The Baby Ruth Milkshake or bar and tag us to share ⚾️ ? pic.twitter.com/F3OoxSB9PO
— Baby Ruth (@BabyRuth) June 30, 2023
Limited edition treats sold at Yankee Stadium, such as the Baby Ruth Milkshake:
Manifest your dream summer: The Baby Ruth Milkshake only available @YankeeStadium concessions. Celebrate our new Partnership with the @Yankees by tagging us and sharing on social if you try it! pic.twitter.com/EGQ2J5hhTz
— Baby Ruth (@BabyRuth) July 20, 2023
“Baby Ruth” was also featured in digital signage in the outfield during each home game.
Ferrero Baby Ruth — NY Yankees Partnership Continued in 2024
The partnership was continued for 2024. “Baby Ruth and the New York Yankees make a great partnership,” said Yankees Senior Vice President of Strategic Ventures Marty Greenspun in 2024. “The Baby Ruth milkshake was a huge hit among fans last year, and we can’t wait for our guests to enjoy it and the classic Baby Ruth candy bar during home games again this season.”
The 2024 partnership resulted in a limited-edition Baby Ruth Baked Pinstripe Bar,
Baby Ruth is teaming up with the New York #Yankees for another season to bring back the #BabyRuth milkshake as a partner for the 2024 season. To learn more about the partnership, we reached out to Kalyn Flournoy, Baby Ruth brand manager, Ferrero. https://t.co/9PCbW1EGuy
— Candy Industry (@CandyIndustry) May 29, 2024
On August 25, 2024, Ferraro sponsored a gave away of a replica 2009 World Series Championship ring — with Baby Ruth as the branded sponsor. In the past, Betteridge — the jewelry company — had sponsored the replica ring giveaways.
The 2009 ring has Baby Ruth inscribed on the side of the ring.
Ferrero Baby Ruth — NY Yankees Partnership Continued in 2025
The Ferrero Baby Ruth-NY Yankee sponsorship continued in 2025. “We’re stepping up to the plate for what promises to be a triumphant, third season with the New York Yankees,” said Neal Finkler, Vice President of Marketing for the Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate portfolio in 2025. “Baby Ruth and the New York Yankees are iconic American brands, and we’re thrilled to bring back fan-favorite treats. Whether it’s our classic bars or limited-edition creations, we want fans to feel like MVPs with every sweet moment at the Stadium.”
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Baby Ruth by serving the Baby Ruth milkshake at Yankee Stadium again in 2025,” added Marty Greenspun, New York Yankees Senior Vice President of Strategic Ventures. “The shake stood out as one of the most popular items on our menu last year, and our guests will be thrilled to know that it will be available at every Yankees game, along with the always-classic Baby Ruth candy bar.”
7. Ferrero & Baby Ruth Sponsorship Ended for 2026
The Yankees and Ferrero did not renew their partnership after the 3-year deal ran out — meaning Baby Ruth is not being used as a sponsor of Yankee promotions in 2026. Hopefully the Yankee organization realized their mistake based on feedback from fans who pointed out this horrible irony.
Or it could be that Ferrero simply switched their marketing budget to focus on The 2026 World Cup, which was held in the US — which they reportedly went ‘all in’ for and sank $100 Million into.
We have reached out to Marty Greenspun, New York Yankees Senior Vice President of Strategic Ventures, questioning him on this. We have not had a response yet — will post when/if we do.
8. Ruth Getting Screwed Like Tommy John
Baseball, The Yankees and chocolate bars have a long history of sponsorship — for example the Butterfinger Bar (also originally by Curtiss) and $100,000 Bar that Phil Rizzuto used to promote in the 1980’s, the Reggie bar of Reggie Jackson — not to mention Yogi Berra with Yoo-Hoo.
But none of them had their identity stolen from them like Babe Ruth.
Like Tommy John with Tommy John underwear — Babe Ruth is getting screwed multiple times over; at least he’s not still alive to witness the screwing like Tommy John is — but his family must feel it.
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