Popular candy bars Baby Ruth and Butterfinger were both created in Illinois by Otto Schnering, who founded the successful Curtiss Candy Company near Chicago in 1916.

Curtiss Candy Company created the Baby Ruth bar in 1921 and the Butterfinger in 1923. After the Baby Ruth bar was introduced, most at the time assumed the candy bar was named after George “Babe” Ruth, then a player for the New York Yankees. The Curtiss Company claimed the bar was named after President Grover Cleveland’s daughter Ruth Cleveland.

Nestlé bought the rights to both Baby Ruth and Butterfinger and operates manufacturing facilities in Franklin Park.

Learn more:
Hungry History – Babe Ruth v. Baby Ruth (History.com)
Otto Schnering
Baby Ruth
Butterfingers