Mayor Welch, Council To Honor Babe Ruth with Special Day February 8

An All-Star team is ready for the Annual Kids and Kubs-Mayor’s game at North Shore Park, 901 North Shore Blvd, St Petersburg, at 12:25 PM on Saturday, February 8.

Events before the game will feature a 9:05 AM preliminary game with youth from TASCO Teen Center of St. Pete, a continuing canned food drive benefiting St Petersburg Free Clinic, 11:30 AM, donations to local charities, and food truck specialties. 12:25, the annual softball game pitting

Before the game, Saint Petersburg will welcome Babe Ruth as a 9’2’ statue, the creation of artist Blake Emory. The statue is scheduled to be unveiled at 11:30 AM.

Welch’s City Hall Stars against the Kids and Kubs.

Three Quarter Century All-Star roster includes Mike Vander Syde, Ray Smith, Bob Kane, Frank Sirois, Robert, Fike, Kaz Gora, Doug Righter, Joe Frohock, Dennis Kuvalanka (captain), Joe Harrington, Tom Glenn, Joe Hannah, Tom Stevens, Ethel Lehmann (Honoray Capain, Larry McCurdy ( Honorary Captain) Kaz Gora and Joe Hannah slated to handle the pitching duties for the Kids and Kubs.

Tom Stevens, grandson of Babe Ruth, is expected to be in the Kids and Kubs lineup despite not meeting the club’s age requirement of 75. Stevens is 71.

The Mayor’s City Hall Stars are expected to field a squad that includes Richie Floyd, Council member Copley Gerdes, Council Vice Chair; Keith Glasgow, Parking Manager; Adul Yates, Parks Operations Manager; Tom Greene, Assistant City Administrator; Chris Guella, Human Evan Mory, Transportation & Parking Management Director; Shawn Drouin, Event Recruitment and Management Director; Joe Kelly, Assistant City Attorney; & Recreation Operations; Pettigrew, Assistant City Manager Heather Judd; Assistant City Attorney Marshall Hampton Stormwater Pavement and Operations Director Antwan Jackson; Administrative Services Manager Brej Prayman; Engineering Director Evan Birk, Engineering Design Manager, under Captain Rick Craft; Recreation & Programing Superintendent.

Larry McCurdy, Men's Hall of Famer, Joined Kids&Kubs after 28 record setting years with St Pete Half- Century. Has National Awards Tournament MVP's from Las Vegas to Florida.

Ethel Lehmann,96 is a member of the Women's Hall Fame. joined Kids and Kubs in 2004.

Before the game starts, Saint Petersburg will welcome Babe Ruth as a 9’2’ statue, the creation of artist Blake Emory. The statue is scheduled to be unveiled at 11:30 AM. Tom Stevens, grandson of Babe Ruth, will toss the ceremonial first pitch to start action on the North Shore diamond between the Kids and Kubs and the City Hall stars.

Early History of the game finds the Kids and Kubs leading by many games won by the softball club’s All-Stars. However, the Mayor’s team did prevail 17-2 in 2023 and 16-3 in 2024.

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