The 'Curse of the Bambino'.
Yes there was. Until 2004 of course.
Since he was underaged the Orioles' manager Jack Dunn became his legal guardian. So the players on the Orioles called him Babe.
George Herman Ruth Jr. got his nickname "Babe" or "Baby" by being so young on the Red Sox, or then the Red Stockings, so Ruth was so young they called him Babe.
He's called Babe Ruth because Babe stands for rookies and Ruth was his last name.