I had something pretty incredible happen this week…
What started as a standard real estate shoot turned into one of those moments that reminds me why I love what I do.
I was photographing a unit in the historic Flori-de-Leon building in downtown St. Petersburg—my first time inside. As we were getting set up, the owner casually mentioned something that Babe Ruth once owned one of the penthouses in this building.
And Lou Gehrig owned the another.
Long before Steinbrenner field, back in the early 1900s, the Yankees held spring training right here in St. Pete at Crescent Lake. (then called Crescent Lake Field / Huggins-Stengel Field)
They trained there from 1925 through the early 1940s
This building wasn’t just another address—it was part of baseball history.
Then It Got Even Better
The owner took me up to the amenity deck on the top floor to snap a few photos. During which the elevator opens and a man walks out wearing a New York Yankees hat.
I said, “Nice hat.”
And after a brief exchange of friendly words he looks at me and says,
“I own the Babe Ruth penthouse… wanna see it?”
Walking Into History
You don’t say no to something like that.
We stepped inside, and it felt like walking back in time.
The doors, the trim, the architectural details—it all appeared to be original, carefully maintained over the years. In a world where most historic spaces get completely modernized, this one hadn’t been stripped of its character.
It still felt like it belonged to another era.
And that alone would have made the experience unforgettable.
A Private Museum
But there was more. And this is the part that put this experience over the top.
The owner is a collector of historical sports memorabilia, and his home felt like a private museum.
Baseball gloves from Babe Ruth’s era.
Vintage baseballs.
Wood-shaft golf clubs.
Artifacts dating back to World War I.
The old leather football helmets.
Every surface told a story. Mantles, shelves, and walls were filled with pieces of history—autographed photos of iconic athletes and celebrities from another time.
At one point, I noticed a television from the 1940s, its screen smaller than an iPad Mini. Nearby sat two working Victrolas, like something preserved from a completely different lifetime.
It didn’t feel staged. It felt lived in, collected, and protected.
Moments You Can’t Plan For
And that’s the thing about this business…
Most people see real estate photography as just photos and videos—another service, another deliverable.
But every once in a while, you find yourself in places you never expected to be, hearing stories you never would have heard otherwise.
What started as a normal shoot somehow ended with me standing inside Babe Ruth’s penthouse, surrounded by a century of history.
You just can’t plan for that.
A Piece of St. Petersburg History
Babe Ruth’s penthouse sits at the top right front of the building. The images here capture the building itself—the architecture, the rooftop, and the details that have been standing since 1926.
Out of respect for the homeowner’s privacy, I didn’t capture any images inside the penthouse—but it’s something I won’t forget.
I never realized just how connected Babe Ruth was to St. Petersburg. The idea that one of baseball’s greatest sports heroes lived here and walked to Crescent Lake for spring training is incredible.
Just another notch in the charm belt of this city.
Opportunity to Own a Piece of History
After experiencing the history inside this building firsthand, it’s hard not to see it differently.
If owning a piece of that history is something that speaks to you, Unit 602 at the Flori-de-Leon is currently on the market. Listed by Dawn Bournand with Dalton Wade Real Estate Group.
You can view the full listing here:
https://ab3-visuals.aryeo.com/sites/130-4th-ave-n-602-st-petersburg-fl-33701-22330651/branded
