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chance, provided that Dunn offered a reasonable contract and made commitments to treat George well. The contract negotiations took place in the spring of 1914. Dunn offered George a salary of $600 for the season, a modest but reasonable figure for a player with no professional experience. The contract included provisions for George's room and board while he was with the team, and Dunn promised to provide him with equipment and training support. The Xaverian Brothers reviewed the contract carefully and gave their approval. George signed the contract on February 27, 1914, in the presence of the Xaverian Brothers. The moment marked the official end of his time at St. Mary's and the beginning of his baseball career. The brothers wished him well and gave him their blessing, though they also urged him to remember his roots and to conduct himself with dignity and integrity. Spring Training and the Birth of "The Babe" George reported to spring training in March 1914. The Orioles trained in Baltimore, which allowed George to remain close to the institution he had just left. The transition from St. Mary's to professional baseball was jarring—George went from a highly regimented institution where every moment was structured to a more freewheeling environment where players were expected to manage their own time and behavior. Dunn's initial impressions of George were mixed. He was impressed by the young man's physical gifts, but he had concerns about his maturity. George was, at nineteen, essentially a child in a man's body. He had spent most of his life in institutions, and he had limited experience with the adult world. He was also deeply insecure, a trait he covered with bravado and bluster. The famous nickname "Babe" emerged during that spring training. The origins of the story vary, but the most common account involves a sportswriter named Sylvan Fox who covered the Orioles for the Baltimore American. During a practice session, Fox or another reporter referred to George as "Dunn's baby" because he was a young and inexperienced player. The name caught on and was shortened to "Babe" by the other writers and players. There are alternative versions of the story. Some accounts say the nickname came from a fellow player