Local impact of Babe Ruth World Series

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – If you’ve been driving in the area, you may have noticed an increase in folks in Cape Girardeau–that’s because the Babe Ruth World Series has returned for a second year.

“The tournament is going fantastic–no rain, most of the games are all on schedule and they’ve had great crowds,” said Missouri Babe Ruth State Commissioner Rich Gross. “The other night for opening ceremonies–I’ve never seen that many people here.”

It’s day six of the Babe Ruth World Series and hundreds of people from across the country have been pouring into Cape Girardeau for the past week.

“Great to see people here from many countries come in they love the community, everybody compliments how nice everybody is–that they love the restaurants, and they love the hotels,” Gross said. “We’ve got teams like Canada and Texas staying in the same hotel and their buddies are now all friends. Families kind of stuck together and it’s great to see them come in here like Puerto Rico, and Mexico enjoy themselves.”

Gross says–the community is embracing the tournament more this year than they did last year.

Seventeen teams traveled as far as Australia, Mexico, the Middle Atlantic, New England and Canada.

Gross added that the community’s support is what makes it a great tournament.

“We see a lot more restaurants that are involved, we get different restaurants we get pictures with all the guys the team going and eating and they are here–some of them–for eight, nine days so their hotel rooms for eight nine days, their meals for eight or nine days and I think it’s a great impact and I think the community has embraced that.”

The Babe Ruth World Series Tournament wraps up Thursday, August 15 with the championship game.

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